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cV^^ 



A HISTORY OF 
AMERICAN PRIVATEERS 



BY EDGAR STANTON MACLAY. 
A History of American Privateers. 

IFiiform with "A History of the United States Navy." 
One volume. Illustrated. Svo. Price, I3.50. 
After several years of research the distinguished historian of American 
sea power presents the first comprehensive account of one of the most pic- 
turesque and absorbing phases of our maritime warfare. The miportance of 
tlie tlieme is indicated by the fact that the value of prizes and cargoes taken 
by privaieers in the Revihition was three times that of the prizes and cargoes 
taken by naval vessels, while in the War of 1812 we hail 517 privateers and 
only 23 vessels in our navy. The intimate connection between privateers 
and the navy, the former serving often as a training school for the latter, is 
brought out in the author's narrative. From forgotten monographs, the 
records of historical societies, from unpublished log books, and from de- 
scendants of noted privateersmen, he has obtained intimate and vivid 
accounts of ihe fitting out of the vessels, the incidenls of their voyages, and 
the thrilling adventures of the brave sailors who manned them. Mr. 
Maclay's romantic tale is accompanieil by reproductions of contemporary 
pictures, portraits, and documents, and also by illustrations by Mr. George 
F. Gibbs. 

A History of the United States Navy, 

From 1775 to 1898. By EuGAR Stanton Maclay, 
A. M. With Technical Revision by Lieutenant Roy C. 

Smith, l^ S. N. In two volumes. Illustrated. Svo. 
I'cr vol., cloth, 83.50. 

This work has been adopted as the Text=Book upon United Stales Naval 
History in the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. 



" It is full of patriotic inspiration, and one that contains in it some of the 
brightest, most stirring and inspiring chapters of our national history." — 
AVzc ] '0; /■ Indcpoidiut. 

The Private Journal of William Maclay, 

United States Senator from Pennsylvania, 1789-1791. 
With Portrait from Original Miniature. Edited by Ed- 
gar S. Maclay, A. M. Large Svo. Cloth, I2.25. 

The first session of Congress was in many respects the most impoitant 
gathering in the history of that body. It was a session about which little 
has been publicly recorded. The members met behind closed doors, and 
the official records of the sitting an- lost. During his two years in the .Sen- 
ate William Maclay kept a journal of his own in which he minutely re- 
corded the transacti ins of each day. In this way he filled three large ledgers 
of .ibont 400 pages each, which are preserved to this day by the descendants 
of the Senator. This record throws a flood of light on the doings of our first 
legislators both in and out of Congress, and is invaluable to the student of 
American history as well as to the general reader. 



1). APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. 



A HISTORY OF 

AMERICAN PRIVATEERS 



BY 

EDGAR STAMTON MACLAY, A.M. 

AUTHOR OF 

A HISTORY OF THE UNTIED STATES NAVY, 

REMINISCENCES OF THE OLD NAVY 

EDITOR OF 

THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM MACLAY 

(U. S. Senator from Pennsylvania, 1789-1791) 



ILLUSTRATED 




NEW YORK 

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 

1899 



\y\-k- 



I. 



("OPYBIGHT, 1800, 

By D. APPLETON and COMPANY. 



Electrotyped and Printed 
at the appleton press, u.s.a. 






TO 

THEODORE EOOSEYELT, 

PIONEER OF 

THE MODERN SCHOOL OF NAVAL WRITERS, 

THIS W O R K 

IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. 

April, 1S9S. 



PREFACE. 



The liistory of flic United States navy is so in- 
timately <-onne('t<Ml with tliat of onr ]>rivateers tliat 
the story of one wouhl be incomph'te witlioiit a fall 
record of the other. In each of onr wars with (h-eat 
Britain many of the ca]>tains in tlie navy assnmed 
command of ]»i-ivateers, in wliich they fre<in(Mitly 
ren(hn'ed services of national importanc(% while the 
]>rivateersmen fnrnished the navy with a lai-j^e nnm- 
hcr of officers, many of whom IxM-ame fanions. In 
onr strnii'iile for indei)endence more than sixty 
American <-raft armed by pi-ivate enterprise were 
c(»mnian(le<l by men who had been, or soon became, 
officers in the re_iinlai' sci-vice; and in nioi'e than 
one instance, notably that of the oftic(>rs and men 
of the l\(ni(/<r — ('a])tain John Panl Jones' famous 
ship, then commanded by Captain William Simpson 
— almost the entire ship's com]tany of a Continental 
cruiser turned to ])rivate('rin;Li'. Many of our most 
distiuiLiuislKMl naval officers have jxtinted with ])ride 
to their probationary careei' in jtrivateers. TIk^ lucre 
lucntion of su<di names as Truxtiin, Porter, liiihllc, 
Decatur. Parney, Talbot, liarry, P<'rry, Muri-ay, 
Kodiicrs, Cassin, Little, llobinson. Smith, and Ho]*- 
kins will show how (dos(dy r(dated were the two arms 
(tf our maritime service. 

Ill his History of the United States Xavy the 
author endeavored to show that our maritime 
forces w(M'e a ])owerful factor not only in attain- 
iiiii' American iiide])eiidence, but in maiiit ainiiiu,' it. 



Vlll 



PREFACE. 



A few iieneral statenuMits will show that in both 
wars with Eniilaiid our privateers were a most 
important if not piuMlomiiiatiiig feature of our early 
sea power. In onr first strug\nle the Government 
war vessels — bnilt, jturchased, or hired — numbered 
f()rty-sev(Mi, or, inclndini;' the flotilla on Lake (Miam- 
])lain, sixty-fonr vessels of all descriptions, carry- 
inn- ii total of one thousand two Imndred and forty- 
two mnns and swivels. This force captured one 
liundr(Ml and ninety-six vessels. Of the jn-ivateers 
there wcro seven hundred and iiinety-tw(>, carryinjji,- 
more than thirteen thousand <;uns and swivels. 
These vesscds captured or destroyed about six hun- 
dred British vess(ds. In the War of 1812 the r(\<>ular 
navy of the United States on the ocean numbered 
only twenty-three vess<ds, carrying in all five hun- 
dred and fifty-six nuns. This force captured two 
hundred and tifty-four of the enemy's craft. In the 
same pcM-iod we had five hundred and seventeen pri- 
vateers, aii.iireoatin<»' two thousand einht humlred 
aiul ninety-three i»uiii^i which took no fewer than one 
thousand three hundred prizt^s. 

The fcdlowinn table will shoAv, in a most strik- 
ing manner, the im]>oi*tance of the part taken by our 
])rivat<MM's in the strunnh" for inde])endence: 



Co7np((rafirp Lis 


t of A 


»erira7!-ai')»pit 


Vessp} 


•s {1770 


-J7S:?). 




Class of Cruisers. 


irro. 


irrr. 


irrs. 


irt!). 

20 
167 


1780. 


1781. 


1783. 


Continental 


31 
136 


34 
73 


21 
115 


13 

228 


9 
449 


7 


Privateers 


323 







Coinparafive Nuui 


hrr of 


Oinis 


"arricd 


hji fhfi 


above 


Vessfilfi 




Class of Cruisers. 


1776. 

586 
1,360 


1777. 


1778. 


1779. 


1780. 


1781. 


1782. 


Continental 


412 
730 


680 
1,150 


462 
2,505 


266 
3,420 


164 
6,735 


198 


Privateers 


4,845 





Looking '^f if from a financial point of view, we 
find that the money value of the prizes and cargoes 



1775-1815. IMPORTANCE OF PRIVATEERS. IX 

taken by (lovei'iimeiit cruisers dui'iiig the Revolii- 
lioii, allowing an average of thirty thousand dollars 
for each, to be less than six million dollars, and, 
allowing the same average for the privateers, we 
have a total of eighteen million dollars. In the sec- 
ond war with Great Britain we find, on the same basis 
of calculation, the money value of (lovernment prizes 
(o be six million six hundriMl thousand dollars, while 
that of the i)rivat<'ers was thirty-nine million dol- 
lars. Taking the entire maritime forces of the 
Tnited States — both navy and privateers — into con- 
sideration, we find that about eight hundred vessels 
were ca])tured from the English in the war for in- 
dependence, valued at twenty-three million eight 
hundred and eighty thousand dollars, while the i)ris- 
on(M's could not have been short of sixteen thou- 
sand; and in the second war against (ireat Britain 
the value of the ])rizes was forty-tive million six hun- 
dred thousand <l(dlars, while there were no fewer 
tiian thirty thousand ])risoners. Against these 
figures we hav(^ some twenty-two thousand jn-ison- 
<'rs taken by our laud forces during the Revcdulion, 
and about six thousand in the War of 1812. 

To the AuKM'ican ]>eo]»le, who for generations 
have been taught that our independence was 
a(dneve<l almost entirely by the efforts of our land 
forces, and that the War of 1812 was brought to a 
creditable (dose ]>rinci])ally by the operations of our 
armies, flu^se^ statements of the comparative values 
and amount of work done on sea and land will ])rove 
a matter of surpris(\ Every reader of American 
history is familiar wifh the capture of Stony Point 
and its Ili-itish garrison of five hundred and forty- 
three men; of Ticonderoga, with its garrison of fifty 
men; of the battle of Trenton, with nearly one thou- 
sand ]>rison«M's. I?ut it is doubtful if many have 
heai-d of the ca])ture of three hundred British sol- 
diers, with their colonel, in two transports, by the 
little State cruiser Lo, «d' the two hundred TTioh- 



X PREFACE. 1775-1815. 

landers and twenty army officers of the Seveuty- 
tirst Kej^iment by our Andrea Bona, of twenty-four 
]^i-itisLi army officers by Captain John Burroughs 
Hopkins' sipiadron, of the two hundred and forty 
Hessians captured by the privateer Mars, of the 
company of drai^oons taken by the privateer Maxxa- 
clnisctt.^,' of the sixty-three Hessian cliasstMirs made 
])risoners by the |>rivateer Tjiraiiiih-Ulc, of the capture 
of a colonel, four lieutenant <Mdon(ds, and three 
majors by the privateer Vciiiinuirc, and of the (•ai)ture 
of one hun<lred scddic^rs by the i»rivateer Warren. 
We all know that \Vashin<'ton took about one thou- 
sand men at Trenton, that (rates made some ei^ht 
thousand prisoners at Sarato,!.>a, and that the Ann^ri- 
cans and French secured about seven thousand at 
Yorktown; but it is not so generally known that 
in th(^ same period fully sixteen thousand ]>risoners 
were made by our s(ni forces. While fewer tlian 
six thousand ])risoners were taken by our land forces 
in the AVar of 1812, fully thirty thousand were taken 
by our sea forces. 

A careful review of British newsi>aiKU-s, period- 
icals, spee(dies in l*arliament, and public addresses 
for the periods covered by these two wars will show 
that our land forces, in the estimation of th(^ British, 
])layed a very insiiiuificant ])art, while our sea forct^s 
were constantly in their minds when "■ th(^ Ameri- 
can war" was under discussion. AVhen Eiijuiand de- 
tcM'mined to coerce the refractory Americans, she 
little thou<;ht that she was invitinji; danj;(>r to hei- 
own doors. Her idea of an American war was a 
somewhat expensive trans])ortation of (Terman mer- 
cenaries across the Atlantic, where the dispute 
would be settled in a wilderm^ss, far rcMnoved from 
any ])ossible chance of interference with British in- 
terests in other parts of the world. The British mer- 
chant looked forward to the war with no small de- 
gree of com])lacency; for, in s])ite of the provisions 
of the Navigation Acts, which were designed espe- 



1775-1815. POTENCY OP OUR SEA POWER. Xl 

cially to protect him from colonial com])etition, he 
keenh^ felt American rivalry for the carrying' trade 
of the world. It \yould cost several million pounds 
annually to send Hessians to America, but this would 
be more than offset by the British merchant secnr- 
ing; the colonist's share of commerce. 

This was the view j^enerally taken by EnjLilishmen 
before hostilities bei^an. I>nt had they anticipated 
that American cruisers and })rivateers would cross 
the Atlantic and throw thiMr coasts into continual 
ahirm; that their shi]>pin<i-, even in their own har- 
bors, would be in dauiier; that it would b(^ unsafe 
for ])eers of the realm to remain at their country 
seats; that l>ritish commerce would be almost an- 
nihihited; that sixteen thousand seamen and eiiiht 
liundred vessids would be taken from them — they 
\\ouhl have entered upon a coercive policy with far 
^i-eater hesitancy. Without her shi]»s and sailors 
Ennlaiul would be reduced to one of the least of the 
Euroi)ean powers, and, while she could afford to lose 
a few thousand Hessians, the loss of her maritime 
ascendency touched her to the quick. It was this 
attacdc on England's <-ominerce that struck tlie mor- 
tal blows to British su])remacv in America — not 
Saratoga nor Yin-ktown. 

Dr. I'ranklin early saw the S2,reat iinportanc(^ our 
marine forces would play in this stru*i\iile. Writiui^' 
fi-oiu Paris, May 2(1, 1777, to the Committee on I'^or- 
einn Affairs, he said: " I have not the least doubt but 
that two or three of the Continental fri;i;ates sent 
into the German Ocean, with some less swift-sailinp,' 
craft, niiiiht intercept and seiz(^ a ureat part of the 
Baltic and Northern trad(\ One frioate would be 
suilicient to destroy the whole of the Greenland tish- 
eries and take the Hudson Bay ships returning." 
Not havinii' the friiiates available, th(» ^Farine Com- 
mit<(M^ sent the cruisers Reprisal and Jj-.i-'nuifoii; and 
in June these little vessels, with tlie 1(l-iiim cutter 
Dolphin, made two comidete circuits of Ir«dand, occa- 



Xll PREFACE. 1777. 

sioiiing tiie oreatest alarm, and after securing fif- 
teen prizes tliey returned to France, where the prizes 
were sold to French merchants. TIk^ proceeds thus 
realized afforded ninch ncMMhMl i)ecnniary assistance 
to the American commissioners who were i)leadini2; 
the cause of the colonists in European courts. The 
two celebrated expeditions of Captain John Paul 
Jones are e(]ualed in the annals of marine history 
only by th<^ daring and success of our privateers. 

So great was the alarm (u-casiontMl by the exploits 
of the American maritime forces that Silas Dean, 
writing to the Marine Committee^ in 1777, said: " It 
effectually alarmed England, ]»revented the great 
fair at Chester, <»ccasione<l insurance to rise, and 
even deterrod the English nicridiants from shipping 
goods in English vessels at any rate of insui-ance. So 
that in a few wecd^s forty h^renidi shi])s were loaded 
in L<mdon on freight — an instance never before 
known." Not only did the IJritish merchants ask 
for the ])rotection of war ships for their merchant- 
men on distant voyages, but they even demande<l 
escorts for linen ships fi-om Ircdaud to England. "• In 
no former war," said a cont(un])orarv English 
n<'wspaper, '' not cv«mi in any of th(^ wars with l^rance 
and S])ain, wer<' the linen vessids from Indand to 
England (^scorted by war ships." 

The following lett(M% written from Jamaica in 
1777 by an Englishman, shows what havoc was cre- 
ated in liritish commerce by our ]»rivateers: " Within 
one week upward of fourteen sail of our ships have 
been carried inlo ^Iartini(|ue by American priva- 
teers." Another Englishman, writing from (Jrenada 
in the same y(^ar, says: '^Everything continues ex- 
ceedingly dear, and we are hai)]>y if we can ^i^ot any- 
thing for money, by n^ason of the quantity of vessels 
taken by the Americans. A fleet of vessels came 
from Ti-elaud a few days ago. From sixty vessels 
that d('])arted from Ti-eland not above twenty-five 
arrived in this and neighl)oring islands, the others. 



1776-1778. PARLIAMENT INVESTIGATES. xill 

it is thought, being all taken by Amerieau priva- 
teers, (lod knows, if this American war continues 
nnich longer we shall all die with hunger. There 
was a ship from Africa with four hundred and fifty 
negroes, some thousand weight of gold dust, and a 
great many elei)liant teeth — the whole cargo being 
computed to be worth twenty thousand pounds — also 
taken by an American privateer, a brig mounting 
fourteen cannon." So loud were the protests of the 
British nu'rcantile «dasses against carrying on the 
American war that every pressure was brought to 
bear on Pari lament for its discontinuance. 

It will be int(M*estiug to note that in all the memo- 
rials presented 1o TarliauK'nt the arguments used 
to bring about peace with America was the unprec- 
edented destruction <d British commerce. On the 
()th of I'ebruary, 17TS, Alderman Woodbridge testi- 
fied at the bar of the House of I.ords that " the num- 
ber (d" slni)s lost by capture or destroyed by Ameri- 
can ])rivat<'ers since the beginning of the war was 
seven hundi-ed and thirty-three, whose cargoes were 
computed to be worth over ten million dollars. That 
insurance before tlie war was two per cent, to Amer- 
ica and two and one half to North Carolina, Jamaica, 
etc., but now that insurance had more than (b)ubled, 
even with a strong escort, and, without an escort, 
fifteen ])er cent." 

William Crcighton, who also appeared before 
their lordslii])S, said that " the losses suffered by 
British mer(diants in consequence of captures made 
by American ]>rivateers u]) to October, 1777, could 
not be short of eleven million dollars." In 177() Cap- 
tain Bucklon, of the Kl-gun ]>rivateer }f()iif</(tni(i\i/, 
from Rhode Island, re])orted that the rate of insur- 
ance in I'^nglaml had risen to thirty per cent, on ves- 
S(ds sailing in convoy, and to fifty per cent, for those 
sailing without convoy. Bucklon made this report 
on his return from a ci'uis*^ in the English riiannel. 

AMien the War of 1812 was about to break out 



xiv PREFACE. 1812. 

the Enolisli carrird a vivid rtM-ollection of tiic daiii- 
aji'es our iiiaritiiiie forces had occasioned in the first 
war, and seemed to be more concerned witli wliat 
American sea power might do in tlie impendin<>- 
war than what onr land forces could do. The Lon- 
don Statesman said: " Every one must recollect what 
thev did in the latter part of the American war. The 
books at Lloyd's will recount it, and the rate of 
assurances at that time will clearly prove what their 
diminutive stren<ith was able to effect in the face 
of our navy, and that when nearly one hundred pen- 
nants were flyinii' on their coast. Were we able to 
prevent their goinj; in and out, or stop them from 
takinj;' our trade and our storeships, even in sij^lit of 
our own liarrisons? Besides, were they not in the 
English and Irish Channels picking up our homeward- 
bound trade, sending their prizes into French and 
Spanish ports, to the great terror and annoyance of 
our merchants and shipowners? 

" These are facts which can be traced to a pi^'iod 
when America was in her infancy, without ships, 
without money, and at a time when our navy was 
not much less in strength than at present. The 
Americans will be found to be a different sort of 
enemy by sea than the French. They possess nauti- 
cal knowledge, with ecpial enterprise to ourselves. 
They will be found attcm])ting deeds which a French- 
man would never think of, and they will have all the 
ports of our enemy open, in which they «-an make 
good their retreat with their booty. In a predatory 
war on commerce Great Britain would have more to 
lose than to gain, because the Americans w^ould re- 
tire within themselves, having everything they want 
for supplies, and what foreign commerce they might 
have would be carried on in fast-sailing, armed ves- 
sels, which, as heretofore, would be able to fight or 
run, as l»est suited tlu^r force or inclination." 

Such was tli(> opinion of an intelligent English 
writer as to the potency of American maritime en- 



1812. AMERICAN MARITIME ENTERPRISE. XV 

terju'ise iu the pendiiii;- war. About the same time 
Mr. Nih\s, of Baltimore, wrote: " How far will the 
revenue [of (rreat Britain] be touched by the irre- 
sistible activity and enterprise of one hundred thou- 
sand American seamen, prepared or preparing;- them- 
selves, to assail British commerce in every sea — to 
cut off supplies from abroad and forbid exportation 
with safety! The Americans will prove themselves 
an enemy more destructive than (ireat Britain ever 
had on the ocean — they will do deeds that otlier 
sailors would not dare to reflect on. Witness their 
ex])loits in the IJevolutionary War and at Tripoli, 
in whicli, perhaps, not a sin<>le instance occurred of 
1 heir bein^" defeated by an equal force, thoufiii many 
cases to the contrary are numerous. What part of 
the enemy's trade will be safe? France, duly esti- 
matinj;- the capacity of America to injure a common 
enemy, will oi)en all the ])orts of the continent as 
])laces of refuj^e and deposit for our privateers, and 
all the fleets of England cannot confine them to their 
harbors, at home or abroad. The British Channel 
will be vexed by their enterprises, and one hundred 
sail of armed vessels will be inadequate to the pro- 
tection of the trade passin<»- throuji'h it. For the 
probability of these things let Lloyd's lists from 1777 
to 1788 be referred to. Terror will pervade the com- 
mercial mind and miiiiity bankruptcies f<dlow, to all 
which will be supei-added the i^reat privations of 
the manufacturers and the increased distresses of 
t he poor." 

Toward the close of the War of 1S12 Enolish 
iie\vspa])ers were full of articles recounting' the vast 
amount of damajie that had been inflicted on British 
c(»mmerce by American ])rivateers. The master of 
one Enjilish vesstd, who had been captured three 
times by American privateers and as many times 
recai»Tured, reported that he had seen no less than 
ten Yankee privateers in his voyage. Tn Jun(\ 1813, 
flour in Great Britain was fiftv-eicht dollars a bar- 



xvi PREFACE. 1813-1814. 

rel, b('ef tliii'ty-eijuiit dollars, pork thirty-six dollars, 
and lumber seventy-two dollars a thousand feet. 

One of the news])ai)ers said: "At Halifax insur- 
ance has been absolutely refused on most vessels, 
on others thirty-three per eent. has been added to 
the former premiums. We do not hear of the cap- 
ture of but one i>rivateer for several weeks; that 
was the l/iirl('(jiiiii, a new vessel, elej^antly fitted, from 
an east(^rn ]»ort. She was taken by the 74-fj;un shi]> 
of the line Jiiilirork by a strataii'em. The depredation 
of the American privateers on the coasts of Ireland 
and Scotland had ])roduced so stronjn' a sensation at 
Lloyd's that it was difficult to <iet polici(^s under- 
written excei)t at (Miormous rates of ]>remiums. 
Thirteen inuineas fov one hundred ixtunds was ]>aid 
to insure vessels across the Irish Cliannel! Such 
a thing, we b(dicve, never ha]>]»en(Ml before." 

A numlx^r of meetings of merchants, shipowners, 
and others interested in trade were held in Livcr]»ool, 
Glasgow, and at other im]>ortant shipping centers 
at which the dc])i'(-dations of American ])ri\ateers 
were deplored. Sucli a meeting was Indd, September, 
1814, in (ilasgow by public advertisement, and ludd 
by special i-eiiuisition on the Lord Provost. At this 
gathering it was resolved unanimously: ''That the 
number of ]»rivateers with which our channels have 
been infested, the audacity with which they have 
approa(die<l our coasts, and the success with whi( h 
their enter])rise has been attended, have ])rovcd iu- 
juiMous to our commerce, humbling to our ])ride, and 
discreditable to the directors of th<^ naval power 
of the British nation, whose flag, till of lat(s waved 
over every sea and triumphed over every rival. That 
there is reason to b(dieve that in the short S])ace 
of less than twenty-four months above eight hun- 
dred vessids have been captured by that power Avhose 
maritime striMigth we have hitherto, impolitically, 
held in contempt. That, at a time when we were at 
peace with all the world, when the niaintenan<'e of 



1814. PETITIONS OF BRITISH MERCHANTS. xvu 

our marine costs so large a sum to the country, 
when the mercantile and shipping interests pay a 
tax for protection under the form of convoy duty, 
and when in the plenitude of our power we have 
declared the whole American coast under blockade, 
(7 is- viiiKill// (listrcssiiKj and morfifj/'uHj that our ships 
can not irith safcfi/ t fa rose our oirii cliannels,^ that in- 
surance cannot be effected but at an excessive 
l)remium, and that a horde of American cruisers 
should be allowed, unheeded, unresisted, and un- 
molested, to take, burn, or sink our own vessels in 
our own inlets, and almost in sight of our own 
harbors. 

'' That the ports of the Clyde have sustained 
severe loss from the depredations already committed, 
and there is reason to apprehend still more serious 
suffering, not only from the extent of the coasting 
trade and the number of vessels yet to arrive from 
abroad, but as the time is fast approaching when 
the outward-bound ships must proceed to Cork for 
convoys, and when, during the winter season, the 
opportunities of the enemy will be increased both 
to capture with ease and escape with impunity. 
That the system of burning and destroying every 
article which there is fear of losing — a system pur- 
sued by all the cruisers and encouraged by their 
own Governments — diminishes the chances of re- 
capture and renders the necessity of prevention more 
urgent." 

r'rom the foregoing it is seen that the English 
Iheinselves regarded our maritime forces, rather 
than our land forces, as the dominant factors in both 
these wars. We do not hear of any high municipal 
officers testifying at the bar of the Hous(^ of Lords 
as to the vast amount of damage caused by Ameri- 
can armies, or as to the danger menacing Great 
Britain from any movements of our land forces. We 

' The italics are the author's. 



XVlll 



PREFACE. 1812-1814. 



hear of no petitions direct to the throne asking pro- 
tection for British interests from our soldiers. We 
do not come across notices of meetings held to 
protest against the ravages caused b}^ our troops. 
On tlie contrary, the British public seemed to have 
ignored our land forces altogether, or, when they 
were mentioned, it was only to speak of them with 
contempt, as the following extract from the Lon- 
<lon Times will show. Speaking of the Wasp-Rc'ut- 
(hrr action, it says: "It seems fated that the 
ignorance, incapacity, and cowardice of the Ameri- 
cans by land should be continually relieved in 
])(>int of effect on the public mind by their successes 
at sea. To the list of tlieir cai)ture8, which we can 
never i)eruse without the most painful emotions, is 
now to be added that of I lis Majesty's sliij) IxciiKlccr, 
takiMi after a short but most desperate action by the 
United States sloop of war Wasp.'' 

We do not find the English studying our army 
tactics, with a view of profiting by any superior ar- 
rangements which American ingenuity and fore- 
thought may have suggested; but we do find them 
examining most minutely into the construction and 
discipline in our war ships, and frankly acknowl- 
edging our superiority in many important details. 
When tlie London Times learned of the result of 
the Enter prisv-Bod-cr fight, it said: ''The fact seems 
to be but too clearly established that the Americans 
have some superior mode of firing, and that we can 
not be too anxiously employed in discerning to what 
circumstance that superiority is owing." AVe do not 
find English military officers changing their methods 
of army management after models devised by Ameri- 
cans, but we do find the Admiralty adopting Ameri- 
can naval ideas in a most radical and sweeping man- 
ner. We introduced 24-pounders in ou^ frigates, 
which at first the enemy ridiculed, but before the 
war was over they were compelled to imitate, and 
finally they paid us the compliment of building and 



1820-1898. vVMEIilCAN NAVAL CONSTRUCTION LEADS. xix 

lidiiiji," out cTuisci's on the "exact lines'' of tlie 
Aniericnu 44-j^uii frigates. In the introduction to 
a new edition of Mr. James' History of the British 
Navy, (lie editor I'cnrai'ks: "It is but justice, in re- 
gard to America, to mention tliat England lias bene- 
liled by Jier | America's | e.\am])le, and tliat the lar^'e 
(dasses of frigates now em|)loyed in the liritisli serv- 
ice (1S2(I) are UKMhded aftei' those of the ITniled 
Slates." Oui- fi'ii;ates were called ''terrible non- 
(les(ri|»ts," and one of the I*]n<;lish 74-<»un line of bat- 
tle ships actually sailed from Cadiz for the Xoi'lh 
American station (H.sj/iiiscd as a frij;ate. I'he Linidon 
(N)urier of -lanuai-y 1, 1S1:>, ncdes that some (d" the 
most famous JJrilisli line of battle ships some of 
them having' been under Tscdson's orders — imdudini;- 
the (UillixUii, MoiKii'cli, 'rinuKlcicr, and l\<'.s<)lnfi(tii, wei'e 
S(decle<l (<» be cut down as friii,ates to cope with oui* 
('oii.sUl iili'tH, I'ns'uU'iil^ and ( iiiird l^talcs. 

An I*]ni;lish naval e\|>ert, speaking- of the (lolidlli 
(1S!)S) as the latest and most powerful battle shij) 
<'ver constructed in (Jreat I>i'itain, says: "It is 
of hisloi-ic interest that the niodei'ii ironcdad, with 
its turrets and massive jdates, had its root idea in 
the famous moniloi-s lii-sl desii;ii<Ml fo)* the riut<Ml 
Stales (lovei'nmeul by I'iricsson, who sou_i;hl to com- 
bine invuluei-abilily with very heavy ordnance. The 
earliest monitoi's had de(dvS almost level with the 
watei-, i-evolvinu' tui'rets, and cannon that thi'ew 
round shot one hundred and lifly pounds ami upwai'd 
in weiiiht. r>ut even under favorable conditions they 
could lire only one round in three minutes; and, al- 
though that measure of offensive capacity was capa- 
ble of (lest j'oyinii' Jniy other contemporary man-of- 
war, it would be of no account at the present day. 
Ericsson, however, _i;ave the cue to naval desij^ners 
all over the world, and his elementary principle has 
oTdy been (levelop(Ml and moditled durinj;- th(^ years 
t hat have ela])sed." 

For capturing- the (Itc.stipcalr Captain Broke re- 



XX PREFACE. 1812-1813. 

ceived a sword from the city of London, the Tower 
aiins were tired in honor of the victory, and the free- 
dom of the city was presented to him — honors seldom 
granted. When the news of the Chesapeake's defeat 
readied London Parliament was in session and Lord 
Cochrane was severely criticising the Government's 
naval administration of the war. Mr. Croker " rose 
to answer him with the annonncement that the ^^hait- 
Hoii had captured the ChcsapeaJie. This was received 
with the loudest and most cordial acclamations from 
every part of the Ilonse '" — simply because an Eng- 
lish ship had captured an American of equal force. 

It is in vain that we search the English news- 
papers for those expressions of fear and humiliation 
on the report of their land reverses which they so 
freel3^ indulged in on hearing of the loss of their 
ships. When the Loudon Times learned of the loss 
of the first British frigate in 1812 it said: " We know 
not any calamity of twenty times its amount that 
might have been attended with niorc^ serious con- 
sequences to the worsted party had it not been 
counterbalanced by a contemporaneous advantage 
[alluding to Welliugtou's successes in Spain | of a 
much greater magnitude. As it was, the loss of 
the (iiierrii're spread a degree of gloom through the 
town whicli it was painful to observe." 

The news of the second naval defeat was at 
first discredited: "There is a report that another 
English frigate, the Mawdouian, has been captured 
by an American. We shall certainly be very back- 
ward in believing a second recurrence of such a 
national disgrace. . . . Certainly there was a time 
when it would not have been believed that the 
American navy could have appeared upon the high 
seas after a six months"' war with England; mucdi 
less that it could, within that period, have been twice 
victorious, ^ed fempora mutantur.-'' On the follow- 
ing day, when the news was confirmed, the Times 
exclaimed : " In the name of God, what was done with 



1813. OUR NAVAL VICTORIES IN ENGLAND. XXl 

this immense siii)eri()rity of force!" Aud the next 
day it says: " Oh, what a charm is hereby' dissolved! 
What hopes will be excited in the breasts of our 
enemies! The land spell of the French is broken 
[alluding to Napoleon's disastrous retreat from 
Moscow], and so is our sea spell.'' The London 
Chronicle asked: " Is it not sickening to see that no 
experience has been sufficient to rouse our Admiral- 
ty to take such measures that may protect the Brit- 
ish flag from such disgrace." 

The news of the loss of the third British frigate, 
the Java, was commented upon by the Times as f(d- 
lows: ''The public will learn, with sentiments which 
we shall not presume to anticipate, that a third Brit- 
ish frigate has struck to an American. . . . This is 
an occurrence that calls for serious reflection — this 
and the fact stated in our paper of yesterday, that 
Lloyd's list contains notices of upward of Ave hun- 
dred British vessels captured in seven months by 
the Americans. Five hundred merchantmen and 
three frigates! Can these statements be true? And 
can th(^ English people hear them unmoved? Any 
one who had predicted such a result of an American 
war this time last year would have been treated as 
a madman or a traitor. He would have been told, 
if his opponents had condescended to argue with 
him, that long ere seven months had elapsed the 
American flag would have been swept from the seas, 
the contemptible navy of the United States annilii- 
lnt(Ml, and their marine arsenals rendered a heap 
of ruins. Yet down to this moment not a single 
American frigate has struck her flag." 

It is interesting to note, in connection with this 
subject, that James' History of the British Navy 
was inspired by the naval occurrences between the 
Ignited States and Great Britain. James first wrote 
a small pamphlet, entitled An Inquiry into the 
^lerits of the Principal Actions between Great Brit- 
ain and the Ignited States. This work met with 



XXll 



PREFACE. 1814. 



such encouragement that he wrote his Naval Oc- 
cnrrences of the Late War between Great Britain 
and the United States, a single octavo volume. The 
reception given to these two works induced him 
to write his History of the Tiritish Navy, which for 
more than half a century has been regarded as the 
standard work on that subject— the result, as the 
author himself declares, of the naval operations of 
the Ihiited States maritime forces.^ 

In summing up the results of this war, the Times 
for December 30, 1814, says: " We have retired from 
the combat with the stripes yet bleeding on our 
ba(d<s. Even yet, however, if we could but close the 
war Avith some great naval triumph, the reputation 
(»f our maritime greatness might be partially re- 
stored. But to say that it has not suffered in the 
estimation of all Europe, and, what is worse, of 
America herself, is to belie common sense and uni- 
versal experience. ' Two or three of our ships have 
struck to a force vastly inferior!' No, not two or 
three, but many on the ocean and whole squadrons 
ou the lakes, and the numbers are to be viewed with 
relation to the comparative magnitude of the two 
navies. Scarcely is there an American ship of war 
which has not to boast a victory over the British 
flag; scarcely one British ship in thirty or forty that 
has beaten an American. With the bravest seamen 
and the most powerful navy in the world, we retire 
from the contest when the balance of defeat is so 
heavy against us." And it may be added that this 
was written before the Times had heard of the cap- 
tun^ (tf the f^j/ane and the Tjcraiif by the Coustitufion 
— the most brilliant naval victory of the war — or 
the disabling of the En(Jifiiiioii by the Prcstidciii, or 
the capture of the Nautilus by the Pfacncl\ or the 

' Lord Nelson's first prize was an American privateer, and his first 
cominaiid, the 14-gun schooner Hicliinhrook, was captured at sea by an 
American privateer shortly after Nelson liad left her. 



1856-1899. A HISTORY OF PRIVATEERS. xxiil 

capture of the Penguin by the Hornet, or the disas- 
trous and huiiiiliatiuo' repulse of armed boats from a 
British squadron b,y the American privateer General 
Armstrong at Fayal. 

r'rom the foreji'oinjj;- it will be seen that, so far as 
the British were concerned, it was our maritime 
forces, rather than our armies, that played the domi- 
natiii<4' part in both the war for our independence and 
in the War of 1812. The object of all wars is to 
operate on the mind of the enemy to the extent of 
bringing; him to the desired terms. That our mari- 
time forces were vastly more efticieiit in this effort 
is seen by the unbiased testimony of the English 
themselves. 

Such being' the importance of the part played by 
our sea power in these two wars, it is fitting- that our 
privateers should be properly recognized in the his- 
toid of our navy, inasmuch as they formed the larg;- 
est section of our maritime forces in those struggles. 
It is not the author's purpose to defend privateer- 
ing-. The Declaration of Paris in 185G sealed the 
fate of that style of warfare, so far as civilized coun- 
tries are concerned; for, although the United States 
and Spain did not ratify the Declaration, yet the 
course pursued by both nations in the Ilispano- 
American War, and the propositions made by our 
delegates to the Peace Conference at The Hague 
in 1899, showed plainly enough that they had re- 
iKumced old-time privateering-. Privateering; — in 
its proper form, however — exists to-day. The essen- 
tial feature of privateering- is commerce destroying'. 
Our commerce destroyers of the navy to-day, like the 
('oJiuiiJi'ki, Miiniea polls, and OJipnp'ui, take the place of 
our early ])rivateers, and are capable of doing- the 
work far more effectively, while — as we have seen 
in the case of the Ohimpla at ^NFanila — they are 
e<iunlly efficient when needed for the regular service. 

TIkm'o are many well-meanings people in the 
United States who believe that the old style of pri- 



XXIV PREFACE. 1779-1813. 

vateering should be maintained. A few facts will 
show the fallacies of their arguments. One of the 
great defects in old-time privateering was lack of 
organization. Each ship was a free lance, at liberty 
to roam the seas as she willed, having no central 
organization or concert of movement. The ()1i/inpia 
showed what commerce destroyers can do when 
properly governed. There are a few instances where 
onr early privateers rendered assistance to the regu- 
lar nav3^; but then there are more instances where 
they were a positive hindrance. Had the Penobscot 
expedition in 1779 been organized with the Govern- 
ment vessels and privateers under one management, 
it might have resulted in a glorious victory instead 
of a disastrous defeat. 

There have been many instances of American pri- 
vateers running away from each other and throwing 
overboard their guns, under the impression that they 
were in the presence of an enemy, because there was 
no efticieut code of signaling between the regular 
war craft and the privateers, or among the private 
armed craft themselves. In one case the American 
privateer Aii<ico)i(hi maintained a/ action with the 
ITnited States cruiser CoiiniKKJorr ITuU, Lieutenant 
Newcomb, near Boston, in which the American com- 
mander and several men were seriously wounded. 
On :\rarch 9, 1813, i\raster-CN)mmandant Arthur Sin- 
clair, of the Ar(}}(.'<, by mistalvC had an action with 
the privateer Fo.r, Captain Jack, of Baltimore, in 
Ohesapcake Bay. Sinclair says: "• In consequence of 
silencing her I ceased my fire, believing that she had 
struck; but although she fired on me first, after 
being told who we were and never would answer 
who she was, yet so much did I fear that it was some 
of my imprudent, headstrong countrymen that I 
took every opportunity to spare her, and to try and 
find out wiu) she was. I much fear they were all 
lost, as she could not have a whole boat left, and we 
found pieces torn out of her by our shot ten or twelve 



181B-1899. A NEW FIELD OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH. XXV 

feet long on the shore the next moruing. I judge 
her to be upward of two hundred tons by the 9^-inch 
cable and the seven-hundred or eight-hundred weight 
anchors we got next day. She was crowded with 
men, as we could see by the light of her guns. I 
A\as sure she would sink, as we were within one 
hundred and fifty yards of her and I pointed myself 
seven long 18-pounders, double and trebled shotted, 
just amidships between wind and water and could 
plainly hear the shots strike her." ^ 

Many such instances could be cited to show that 
privateering as practiced in our early wars is unde- 
sirable. Commerce destroying, under the exclusive 
control of the navy, is the privateering of to-day, and 
in this form is a legitimate and most potent factor 
in warfare. 

In venturing upon a history of American priva- 
teers the author realizes that he has, in truth, en- 
tered upon a new and most ditlicnlt held of historical 
research. No complete record of American priva- 
teers has ever been published; the nearest ap- 
proach being Captain George Coggeshairs History 
of American Privateers, which is limited to the oper- 
ations of our amateur cruisers in the War of 1812, 
and, aside from the highly interesting narrative of 
tlu^ l)art Captain Coggeshall ]>layed as commander 
of tlie Ihtrid Porter and the Leo, is far short of a 
standard history. In writing his History of the 
United States Navy, the author had the official 
re])orts and other reliable records on which to base 
his work; but in attempting a history of American 
])rivateers he found himself entirely cut off from 
tliis soli<l basis, and was dependent on the frag- 
mentary and scatt(^red records which are to be found 
in tlie i)eri()di(als of that day and on the i)rivate 
letters, logs, and traditions that have be(Mi pre- 
served b\- the descendants of our privateersmen. 



' .Sinclair, in a private letter. 



xxvi PREFACE. 1899. 

These valuable records have been scattered all over 
the United States, and had it not been for the gener- 
ous co-operation of the persons having them in their 
possession this work never could have been given 
in its present complete form. 

The author desires to acknowledge the assistance 
he has received in the preparation of this work from 
the Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge, United b^tates Senator 
from Massachusetts; from llear-Admiral Montgom- 
er}' Sicard, U. S. N.; from Captain Arent Schuyler 
Crowninshield, U. S. N.; and from Rear- Admiral John 
Francis ITigginson, U. S. N., and his brother James 
J. Iligginson, of New York. To Miss Annetta 
O'Brien Walker, a lineal descendant of Cai^tain Jere- 
miah O'Brien of Kevolutionary fame, the author is 
indebted for many valuable details concerning the 
first sea fight in the struggh^ for independence, which 
have thrown much light upon, and rectified some in- 
accuracies relative to, that memorable fight. In- 
teresting data b(niring on our early i)rivateersnu'n 
have been received from Bowden Bradlee Crownin- 
shield, of Boston; Charles Thomas Ilarbeck, of New 
York; Benjamin I. Cohen, of Portland, Oregon; 
Samuel C. Clarke, of Marietta, Georgia; Thomas 
Wentworth Higginson, of Cambridge, ^Massachu- 
setts; Arthur Curtiss Stott, of Stottsville, New 
York; Edward Trenchard, of New York; Franklin 
Eyre, of Philadelphia; Charles Albert Hazlett, of 
Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Otis Burr Dauchy, of 
Chicago; ISlv. and ]Mrs. Samuel Dodge, of Portsmouth, 
New Hampshire; John C. Crowninshield, of Andover, 
IMassachusetts; W. H. Osborne, of Boston; and 
Judge Addison Brown, of New York. 

The ofticers of the following histoi'ical societies 
and libraries have given the author every possible aid 
in ]»rosecuting his rosea I'ches: John Bobinson, Secre- 
tary of tlie SalcMu Peabody Acad(Mny of Science; Rob- 
ert S. Rauloul, Presid(Mit of the Essex Institute, 
Salem, Massachusetts; William T. Peoples, of the 



1899. AUTHOR'S ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. XXVll 

Mercantile Library, New Yorlc; Amos Perry, Secre- 
tary of tlie Rliode Island Historical Society; and Or- 
yille Burnell Ackerly, Secretar}- of the Suffolk His- 
torical Society, of Riverhead, New York. Valuable 
records and sn^'^estions liave also been received from 
Professor Wilfred H. Munro, of Brown University, 
I'rovidence, Rhode Island; Ripley Hitchcock, of 
New York; William Edward Silsbee, a j^randson of 
Nathaniel Silsbee, who commanded the privateer 
Ilrrald in her fight against the French letter of 
marfjue Gloire in 1800, and who afterward became 
a colleague of Daniel AVebster in the United States 
Senate. The author will be glad to receive any fur- 
ther facts of interest bearing on our privateers for 
insertion in future editions of this work. 

E. S. xM. 

OLD FIELD POINT, 

Setauket, IjOng Island, N. Y., 

October, IS'JQ. 



CONTENTS, 



PAET FIEST. 

THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 

CHAPTER I. 

PRIVATEERS AND PRIVATEERSMEX. 



PAGE 



Oripn of privateering — Its introduction in the United States — First 
English i)rivateersnien — Exploits of Captain Wright — " Gentle- 
men sailors" — Distribution of prize money — Character of the 
early privateersmen — Americans raise privateering to a higher 
plane — Fleet sailing — Development in [trivate cruisers . . 3-21 

CHAPTER II. 

DANGERS PECULIAR TO PRIVATEERIXG. 

Daring of privateersmen — Danger of private cruisers becoming top- 
heavy — Enmity of British olRcers against privateersmen — Pen- 
sioning privateersmen 22-27 

CHAPTER III. 

COLOXIAL PRIVATEERS. 

First American sea fight — Little distinction between the early priva- 
teersmen and pirates — Pirates in Charleston. South Carolina- 
Steed Bonnett — Buccaneers on the Xew England coast — Captain 
William Kidd — ^lurder of Lieutenant Hough by pi-ivateersmen 
in Xew York — Aniericnu privateers in the French war — 3Iany 
captures 28-42 

CHAPTER IV. 

BEGIXN'IXG HOSTILITIES. 

First overt acts of resistance to British autliority in America on sea 
— Demonstrations against tlie .S7. John and Liherfy — Attack on 

xxix 



XXX COXTEXTS. 

PAGE 

the Gaspe— The " Boston Tea Party " — AtTair of the Margaretta 
— Capture of that craft — Subsequent careers of Jeremiah and 
John O'Brien — Career of tlie Ilamu'bal and Hibernia — \Yasliing- 
ton sends out cruisers — Death of Major Menzies — Vessels seized 
by the English, i::4-i::0 43-G8 

CHAPTER V. 

KIRST TWO YEARS. 

Careers of the Ya7ikee and Yankee Hero— First privateers from Mas- 
sachusetts — Maryland and Xew York privateers — Early essay of 
privateers from Pennsylvania — Philadelphia builds gunboats — 
Privateers from Xew Jersey and Xew Hampshire . . . 69-78 

CHAPTER Vl. 

XAVY OFFICERS I.X PRIVATEERS. 

Barney and Robinson go a-privateering — The Pomona's hard fight — 
Barry and ^Murray on private ventures — Truxtun and Decatur 
also — McXeil, Waters, Little, and Porter command privateers 79-90 

CHAPTER VII. 

CAPTAIX SILAS TALBOT. 

Early career of Talbot — Daring attack on the Asia in a fireship — At 
Fort Mifflin — Building flatboats in Rhode Island — Fitting out 
the Hawk — Successful attempt against the Pigot — Designs 
against the Renown — Remarkable success of the Argo — Her 
many ca{itures — A desperate battle — Talbot commands the Gen- 
eral Washington — Captured — Exchanged — Return to Amer- 
ica 91-112 

CHAPTER VIII. 

RAPID GROWTH OF PRIVATEERING. 

Marvelous development of privateering — The Hazard and Bunker 
Hill — Careers of the Vengeance and General Hancock — The Provi- 
dence, True American, and Black Prince .... 113-119 

CHAPTER IX. 

A BOY PRIVATEERSMAN. 

Building the Alexander — Securing a complement — Sherburne ships 
in the Greyhound — A capture— Detailed in the prize crew — The 
prize recaptured — Among a half-savage people — Hardships as a 
prisoner — Sails in the Duchess of Cumberland — Wreck of that 



CONTENTS. xxxi 

PAGE 

cruiser — Return to the old prison — Sails for England in the 
Fairy — Harsh treatment— Captain Yeu's character — In Old ]\Iill 
Prison — Return to America 120-129 



CHAPTER X. 

THE WORK OF 1779. 

Reverses of our armies — Successes on the high seas — The General 
Arnold and the General Stark — The Protector-Admiral Duff 

battle — The Hibernia and Ilolker — Fight against an Indianian 

Taking a king's ship 1^0-137 

CHAPTER XI. 

JONATHAN HARADEN. 

Haraden an ideal privateersman — His career in the Tyrannicide 

Takes command of the General Pickeriny — His "impudent" 
capture of the Golden Eagle — Palls in with the Achilles — Hara- 
den's skillful maneuver — Holds his advantage over his antago- 
nist — Drives off the Achilles and again captures the Golden 
JPfl^Ze— Haraden's many prizes— His singular summons to an 
English commander 138-147 

CHAPTER XII. 

AN ESCAPE FROM OLD MILL PRISON. 

Barney's capture by the English — In the prison ships at New York 

His rough treatment by the townsfolk — Great sufferings in the 
Yarmouth — Arrival at Old Mill Prison — Treatment at that place 

— Determination to escape — A ruse — A bold dash for liberty 

Disguised as a fisherman Barney sails for Prance in an open boat 
— Recaptured — Return to Plymouth — Again free — Narrow es- 
cape from recognition — A new disguise — Travels to Exeter and 
thence to Holland — Sails in the South Carolina — Nearly ship- 
wrecked — Puts into Coruiia — A mistaken attack on Spanish 
ships — Retui'n to America 148-lfi6 

CHAPTER XIII. 

CRUISE OF DR. SOLOMON DROWNE. 

How Dr. Drowne's diary was preserved — Sails in the Rope — A fear- 
ful storm — Distressing sickness— Clear weather again — A £20- 
000 prize — A chase — Dreadful suspense before battle — The cap- 
ture — Fear of losing the prize — Joy on regaining the home 
port ..... 167-176 



xxxii CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

CAKEER OF THE GENERAL WASHINGTON. 

PAGE 

Capture of the General Wasliington by the British — Taken into their 
service as the General 3Ionk — Iler valuable services under her 
new masters — Philadelpliia merchants fit out the Hyder Ally — 
The General IFonk attacks the Hyder Ally — Barney's clever 
stratagem — Irrelevant remarks of a Buck County " marine " — 
Capture of the General Monk — She is fitted out under her old 
na,me — Barney commands her and sails on an important mission 
— A night battle — The enemy beaten off, but the General Wash- 
ington disabled — Puts into Cape Francois and refits — Loads with 
specie loaned to the United States and returns to Baltimore 177-191 

CHAPTER XV. 

CAPTAIN JOHN MANLY. 

Manly's record — Commands the privateer Cumherland — Captured and 
imprisoned — Escapes, and, returning to America, commands the 
privateer Jason — Dismasted in a gale when only a few days 
out — Mutiny — Manly's iron will — Sails again — Captures two 
British privateers — Forms an impromptu squadron with other 
American cruisers at sea — Lively struggle with a shai-k — Battle 
with a frigate — Captured — Harsh treatment — At Old Mill Prison 
— Return to America 192-204 

(CHAPTER XVL 

CLOSING YEARS OF THE WAR. 

"Darkest hour" of the Revolution — Activity on the high seas by 
our privateers — Captures by the Pilgrim — The Congress-Savage 
battle — Guerrilla boats — Privateers acting in squadrons — Brief 
summary of the privateers in the Revolution — Atakmte-Ante- 
lope fight in 1793 — French attack on the Lonisa in 1799 — The 
Herald defeats a French privateer in Bengal Bay, 1800 . 205-222 



PART SECOND. 
THE WAR OF 18 12. 
CHAPTER L 

FIRST VENTURES. 

Fitting out privateers — Capture of the first British cruisers, the 
Wliiting and Bloodhound — The Black Joke and Jack's Favorite 



CONTENTS. xxxiii 

PAGE 

— Repulse of the Indians boats — Cruises of the Madison and 
Gossamer — Recapture of tlie Xprvina — Career of tlio Fame and 
Dolphin 225-241 



CHAPTER II. 

" BRITISH LICENSES " AND REVENUE CUTTERS. 

Illicit trade with the enemy — Captain Bray, of the Plumper — Case of 
the llargaret — Captain Burdett's insolence — Legal opinions on 
"licensed vessels" — Prizes by the revenue cutter 3/(^7 ('.w«,— Ex- 
plosion in the Gallatin 242-250 

CHAPTER III. 

CAPTAINS MAFFITT AND SHALER. 

Clever seizure of the Tulip — Capture of the Pursuit and Planter — 
Active operations of the Governor Tompkins — Narrow escape 
from capture — The Anaconda by mistake attacks the Commo- 
dore Hull — British boats attack the Anaconda and Atlas — Cap- 
ture of the Americans — Brilliant careers of tlie Srouri/e and 
Rattlesnake 251-264 

CHAPTER IV. 

PRIVATEERS OF RHODE ISLAND. 

Fitting out the Yankee — Valuable captures in her first and second 
cruises — Raiding West African ports — Action with the Thames 
— Battle with a Spaniard — A $600,000 prize — Sixth cruise of the 
Yankee — Fitting out the True Blooded Yankee in France — She 
causes great havoc in English waters — Finally captured — Brief 
essays of the Yankee Lass and Yankee American — Other priva- 
teers sent out from Little Rhody 265-278 

CHAPTER V. 

CAPTAIN THOMAS BOYLE. 

An ideal privateersman — His first cruise in the Comet — Speedy cap- 
tures — Battle with an officious Portuguese cruiser off Pernara- 
buco — Victory for the Americans — Hard chase by a British man- 
of-war — A trick that Boyle detected — A humorous chase — Boyle 
commands the Chasseur — His '* superb audacity " — Boyle de- 
clares all England blockaded — He worries the West Indian mer- 
chants — Ilis remarkable action with tiie cruiser St. Lawrence — 

A battle royal— Victory 279-300 

3 



xxxiv CONTENTS. 

CPIAPTER VT. 

A DISTINGUISHED PRIVATEERSMAN. 

PAGE 

Barney in the S a mpso7i— Robbed by an English privateer— His ves- 
sel seized — Recaptnres her — Again captured — Brutal treatment 
— ;A farcical charge of " piracy " — Barney is liberated — Attacked 
by a ruffian in the street— Rowley's despicable conduct — Barney 
enters the French navy and becomes a commodore — In the War 
of 1813 commands the American privateer Rossie — Detention by 
a sheriff — A cruise of remarkable success .... 801-307 

CHAPTER VII. 

DECATUR-DOMINICA FIUHT. 

Three Decafurs in the privateer service — One chased by the Consti- 
tution — The third Decatur sails from Charleston — Meets the Do- 
minica — The battle — A desperate struggle — Final victory of the 
Americans — This action compared with the regular sloop actions 
of the war — Kindness of the Americans to their prisoners . 308-319 

CHAPTER VIII. 

SOUTHERN PRIVATEERS. 

Craft sent out from Norfolk — Career of the Rocjer — Privateers of Wil- 
mington, North Carolina — New Orleans fits out amateur cruisers 
— Five sent out from Savannah — Career of the Hazard, of 
Charleston — Other privateers from that port — Great success of 
the Saucy Jack — A rich prize — Battle with the transports Gol- 
den Fleece and Balahoo 320-827 

CHAPTER IX. 

CAREER OF THE AMERICA. 

Several privateers bearing this name — Her first venture — A "terrible 
scourge" — Many seizures — Capture of the Euphemia — Curious 
cargoes — Battle with the English privateer Elizaheth — Total 
value of the America's prizes 328-335 

CHAPTER X. 

A TYPICAL PRIVATEERSMAN. 

The David Po/Vr/- cleverly eludes the blockading squadron — Chased 
by the British off Charleston — Takes in a cargo — A bold dash 
for the open sea — A terrific storm in the Bay of Biscay — The 
David Porter nearly founders — Captain Coggeshall's fine sea- 
manshij) — Starvation — A fortunate capture — Taking desperate 



CONTENTS. XXXV 

PAGE 

chances to escape a British frigate — Second chase by the same 
frigate — An adroit evasion — Safe arrival at Pile d'Yeu . 336-349 



CHAPTER XL 

AN ESCAPE FROM GIBRALTAR. 

Critical jiosition of American privateers in French ports in April, 
1814 — Advance of the allied armies and blockades by British 
fleets — F'itting out the Leo for Captain Coggeshall — She sails — 
Chased by a war brig — Heavy weather — Prizes — The Leo nearly 
dismasted — Driven under the guns of a frigate — Ca[)tured — 
Kind treatment — Prisoners taken to Gibraltar — Coggeshall's 
wonderful escape 350-358 

CHAPTER XII. 

IN BRITISH PRISONS. 

At Melville Islaud — Inhuman treatment — Hard condition of our 
privateersmen in Jamaica and Barbadoes — A perilous escape 
from Bermuda — Harsh treatment at Kingston — " Floating Hells " 
in England — A striking contrast — Situation of Dartmoor Prison 
— A kind English surgeon — A bold dash for liberty — Treachery 
— The second attempt successful — The Dartmoor massacre — A 
brutal ofHcial 359-376 

CHAPTER XIII. 

THE PRINCE DE NEUCHATEL. 

Preparing the Prince de KeucJidfel as a privateer — Her many valu- 
able captures in English waters — Captain Ordronaux an able 
commander — The scene ofif Nantucket Shoals — The Prince de 
Neuchdtel meets the frigate Endymion — British make a boat 
attack — Desperate encounter with the Americans — Dreadful 
slaughter — Final repulse of the English — Embarrassed by many 
prisoners— Return to Boston — The Prince de Neuchdtel sails 
again — A terrific storm— A negligent officer — Chased by Sir 
George Collier's squadron — Dastardly attemi)t to blow up the 
ship — Captured — American tars in the Leander — A battle of 
songs — Final discomfiture of the prisoners .... 377-390 

CHAPTER XIV. 

CRUISES OF THE GRAND TURK. 

A ft)rnudable privateer — Her first ventures — Daring raids in Eng- 
lish waters — Waiting for the eni'my — Off Pernambueo — Nearly 



xxxvi CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

trapped— A hard chase — Final escape — A square yardarm fight 
—Return to port 391-400 



CHAPTER XV. 

ESCAPE OF THE IDA. 

A council of war at La Rochelle — Determination to put to sea — Au- 
dacious capture of the transport Ilary — Harbor blocked by a 
powerful liritish fleet — The Ida's bold dash — The English give 
cliase — At close quarters — Extraordinary escajie of the Ida — The 
long chase at sea — The pursuers finally eluded . . . 401-407 

CHAPTER XVI. 

PRIVATEERS OF SALEM. 

Unique position of Salem in American ship lore — Importance of her 
commerce — jMany privateers sent out — " Little boats should 
keep near shore " — Careers of the Active a.\n\ Alfred — Themis- 
named TJi rasher and Terrible — Losses by shipwreck — Remark- 
able adventures of the Invincible Napoleon — The Nancy and 
Frolic — Receipts fi-om sale of prizes — The (Valet and Charles 
Stewart 408-410 

CHAPTER XVII. 

SOME TYPICAL CRUISES. 

The Kemp attacks a meix'hant fleet — A clever ruse — A stubborn con- 
test — Successful career of the Caroline — Many captures — The 
Ilammoth puts to sea — Many prizes in one cruise . . 420-426 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

PRIVATEERS AGAINST PRIVATEERS. 

Success of the Shadow — Action with the 3Iay — The Globe flghts the 
Uoyd — The Globe's many prizes — Checkered career of the 3Ia- 
tilda — Battle between the Ned and the 3Inlvina — A desi)erate 
struggle between the Saratoga and the Rachel — Captain Wilson 
of the 3Iacdonoug}i attacks an unknown stranger . . . 427-438 

CHAPTER XIX. 

NEW YORK PRIVATEERS. 

Cai)tures by the Benjamin Franklin — Careers of the liars, 3Iorgi- 
ana, a,nd Ilolkar — Exploits of the Invincible, Jonquille, and 3Ia- 



CONTENTS. xxxvii 

PAGE 

rengo — Orders in Cnmicil and Rosamond take prizes — The catas- 
trophe in the 'Teaztr — Valorous exploit of the " Noble Seventy " 

439-449 

CHAPTER XX. 

PRIVATEERS VEIiSVS PACKET SHIPS. 

Difficulties in capturing packet ships — The Townsend taken by the 
Tom — Action between the Iliglijltjer and BurcJiaU — Night at- 
tack on the nighfhjer — Action between the Saratoga and 3Ior- 
giana — Desperate encounter between the Globe and an English 
packet ship — The Harpy captures the Turkish ambassador — 
British acknowledgments of American humanity . , . 450-461 

CHAPTER XXI. 

BATTLES WITH THE KIXG's SHIPS. 

Action between the Z> (7 i'^e«/ and the Laura — The Loiter i/'s gallant 
defense against English boats — Remarkable career of the Dol- 
phin — Her heroic tight against British boats — Other Dolphins 
in this war — The Eagle makes an "impudent" seizure — The 
Ilonfgomery repels an English attack — Under the enemy's guns 
—The Syren-Landrail fight 462-473 

CHAPTER XXII. 

PRIVATEERS OF BALTIMORE. 

The lievenge and Bolla put to sea — Exploits of the Sarah Aun and 
the Expedition — The Sabine and Baltimore make ]irizes — 
" Hardy must be a noble fellow " — Doings of the YorJc and Perry 
— The xebec Ultor — Services of the Pike and Late re?ice — Careers 
of the Amelia, Syren, and Whig 473-483 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

GUY R. CHAMPLIX. 

Action of the General Armstrong off the Surinam River — Under the 
enemy's guns — A desperate struggle — Many prizes taken by this 
famous privateer — Chainplin commands the Wa7'rior — A clever 
stratagem — His return to port with a rich cargo . . . 484-490 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

BATTLE OF FAVAL. 

Captain Rrid commands the General Armstrong — Eluding the block- 
ading squadron — Playing at *' long balls " with an English 



xxxviii CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

cruiser — Reid's audacity — Arrival in tlie port of Fayal — Confer- 
ence with the American consul — Approach of the English squad- 
ron — British boats advance to attack — Spirited defense of the 
General Armstrong — Repulse of the enemy — The second attack 
— A sanguinary fight — The losses on both sides — Comparison of 
this battle with the frigate actions of the war — Reid's reception 
on his return home 401-503 

CHAPTER XXV. 

CONCLUSION. 

American privateering limited to our two wars with Great Britain — 
Declaration of Paris in 1856 — Jefferson Davis issues letters of 
marque — Confederate privateers — Cases of the Jeff Dan's, Bean- 
regard, Judah, and Savannah — Sinking of the Petrel — Summary 
of privateering in the Revolution and in the War of 1812 — Our 
gallant privateersmen after the war 503-507 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



PAGE 

Overawing the enemy. By George Gibbs . . . Frontispiece 
The pirates fought with the ferocity of despair. By George 

Gibbs Facing ?A 

Captain Abraliain Whipple 47 

The affair of the Gaspe Faciiu/ 49 

The " Boston Tea Party '• 51 

Birtliplace of Colonel Jeremiah O'Brien, near Machias, IMaine . . 53 
O'Brien's Brook, near Machias, Maine, where the patriots held their 

secret meetings 54 

Edward Preble 60 

Silhouette of Colonel Jehu Eyre, of the Piiiladelphia firm of ship- 
builders 76 

Joshua Barney 79 

John Barry 84 

Thomas Truxtun 87 

Stephen Decatur 88 

David Porter 90 

Esek Hopkins 91 

Silas Talbot 93 

Scene of Captain Silas Talbot's exploits in Rhode Island waters . 96 

Scene of Captain Talbot's cruises 104 

Instructions to privateers, 1776 Facing 133 

Barney's escape from 31111 Prison. By George Gibbs . . Facing 154 

Joseph Peabody 313 

The President's letter of marque to the privateer Herald . Facing 318 
Rescue of the British cruiser CornwalUs from the French privateer 

La Olnire by American merchantmen .... Facing 330 

Captain Silsbee . 331 

Certificate of membership in the Salem ]Marine Society . Facing 338 

Ma[) of Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds 360 

Capture of the British cruiser *SV. Lawrence by the United States 

privateer Chasseur Facing 398 

Facsimile of a page in the America's log kept during her third 

cruise Facing 333 

The America, owned by George Crowninshield & Sons, the most 

noted Salem privateer 335 

xxxix 



xl LIST OP ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE 

Dartmoor Prison, where iHcany American prisoners were confined . 368 , , 

Scene of the Orand Turk's operations 394 } | 

Entrance to the harbor of La Rochelle, France . . . Facing 403 

Crowninshield's Wharf, Salem, Mass., in 1812 . . . Facing 410 

Battle between the schooner Saratoga and the brig Racliel Facing 436 

Certificate of shares in the privateer Warrior . . . Facing 487 

Samuel Reid 494 

The United States sailing frigate aSY. Laicrence sinking the Confed- 
erate privateer Petrel Facing 508 

For the use of the three illustrations by Mr. George Gibbs mentioned in this list 
Messrs. D. Appleton and Company desire to aelcnowledge the courtesy of the Curtis 
Publishing Company, publishers of the Saturday Evening Post. Acknowledgment should j 

also be made to Charles T. Harbeck, Esq., for his loans of rare prints and documents. | 



!l 



PART FIRST. 

THE WAE OF THE REYOLUTIOR 



CHAPTER I. 

PRIVATEERS AND PRIA'ATEERSMEX. 

There seems to be iimcli confusion in tlie minds 
of sonic i)co])le as to what a i)nvateer is. With many, 
(lovcrnment crnisers, privateers, and even pirates, 
liave been chissed nnder one head — namely, a vessel 
inl ended for fiohtiuji'; and, as will be seen in the chap- 
ter on Colonial Privateers, there was a time when 
there was little to distinjunish the privateer from 
the rover of the sea. In some instances, notably that 
of Captain Kidd, officers of the lioyal Navy turned 
to piracy. In one of the first records we have of 
privateering-, that in which a ship belonging to Sir 
Thomas Stanley, son of the Earl of Derby, brought 
a ])rize into the Mersey amid '' great rejoicing," the 
opinion was expressed that, after all, the capture 
might liave been an act of piracy. 

.Mr. I*ei)ys, who is a recognized authority on 
matters pertaining to the early history of the British 
navy, notes: ''The Coii.stdnf-WanvicJi was the first 
frigate built in England. She was built in 1649 by 
:\[r. Peter Vvit for a privateer for the Earl of War- 
wick, and was sold by him to the States. Mv. Pett 
took his model of a frigate from a French frigate 
which he had seen in the Thames; as his son, Sir 
Pliineas Pett, acknowledged." This admission, taken 
in connection with the fact just noted — -namely, that 
the son of the Earl of Derby owned a privateer — 
would seem to indicate that the P>ritish peerage, if not 
the originators of the ])ractice of ])rivateering, were at 

3 



4 PRIVATEERS AND PRIVATEERSMEN. 1756 

least deei)ly enjj^aged in it at this time. The Constant- 
Warwick was a formidable craft for her day. She 
measured about four hundred tons and carried 
twenty-six guns, divided as follows: Eighteen light 
demi-culverins, or short 10-pounders, on the main 
deck; six light sakers, or short 5-pounders, and two 
minions. 

It was not very long before the American colonies 
had secured their indejjendeuce of Great Britain that 
privateering had come into vogue as a recognized 
profession. During the reign of George II privateers 
began to play a i)rominent part in the sea jiower of 
England, and then the Rritons seem to have been 
driven to it only because of the disastrous activity 
displayed by their Continental rivals. On the out- 
break of the Seven-Years War, 1750, French priva- 
teers hovered about the coasts of Great Britain and 
almost annihihited her commerce, that of Liverpool 
being especially exposed. French privateers found 
their way into the Irish Sea, and at one time actually 
blockaded the port of Liverpool, then England's 
greatest shipping center. Insurance rose to prohib- 
itive rates, while trade was at a standstill. The 
" black ivory " trade at that time had been especially 
profitable and the British merchant had the alterna- 
tive of sitting idly with folded hands or engaging in 
the same amateur warfare that his French brother 
was so vigorously waging. Acting with his usual 
energy, when once the plan was decided upon, the 
British merchant not only equipped his useless 
traders as armed cruisers, but began the construction 
of many swift-sailing vessels designed especially for 
privateering. These craft were sent out, and not 
only succeeded in making it dangerous for the enemy 
to venture near the coast, but captured a large num- 
ber of merchantmen. 

One of the first of these privateers to leave Liver- 
pool returned in a few weeks with a French West 
Indiaman as a prize, which was computed to be 



1744-1756. A CELEBRATED ENGLISH PRIVATEERSMAN. 5 

worth twenty tliousaud pounds. Other captures of 
equal value quickly followed; and ''then," records 
nil Enj;lish writer, ''the whole country became mad 
after privateering- and the mania even spread to the 
ccdonies " — meaning America. Certain it is that 
about this time privateering became extremely ac- 
tive in these colonies. On the whole, however, the 
Liveri)ool merchant was opposed to this kind of war- 
fare. It was strictly as a business venture that he 
was induced to engage in it, in the first instance; for, 
notwithstanding the fact that his privateersmen were 
eminently successful, having taken in the first four 
years one hundred and forty-three prizes, he found 
that the final results were disastrous to trade. When 
llie war with the American colonies broke out the 
liritish morchant was loath to resort to privateering, 
and while the Americans were sending out dozens of 
those craft tlie Liverpool people did little. In fact, 
it was not till the French had joined in the war that 
the Liverpool merchant bestirred himself in this line 
— the only paying occupation left to him. 

One of the most celebrated of Liverpool's priva- 
teersmen was Captain Fortunatus Wright. As early 
as 1744, shortly after the outbreak of the war with 
I'rance, this man, with the assistance of some Eng- 
lish merchants residing in Leghorn, fitted out a 
privateer, which they called the F<iiii<.% for the pur- 
])()se of ])roying on the enemy's commerce. Accord- 
ing to the (Jentleman's Magazine of 177(» the Faiiir, 
while under the commaud of Ca])tain Wright, cap- 
tured sixteen I'^rench s]ii])s in the Levant, the cargoes 
niid craft being valued at four hundred thousand 
]»ounds. 

When, in 175(1, the merchants of Liver])ool deter- 
mined to go into ]irivateeriug on their own account, 
Wright ^^•;ls again at Lc^gliorn. Believing a re- 
newal of hostilities with h'rance to be inevitable, he 
caused a small vessel, which he called the St. (ivnnje, 
to be built and fitted out for the exjiress ])urpose 



6 PRIVATEERS AND PRIVATEERSMBN. 175(;. 

of cruising aj>ainst the enemy. His plans became 
known to the French, and a xebec mounting sixteen 
guns was stationed at the entrance of tlie harbor to 
nip his mischievous project in the bud. As the xebec 
carried a complement of two hundriMl and eighty 
men, which was more than Wright could hope to 
bring together, the chances of his getting to sea were 
small, especially as it was well known that the 
French king had promised a reward of three thou- 
sand livres a 3'ear for life, the honor of knighthood, 
and the command of a sloop of war to whomsoever 
brought this particular Wright, dead or alive, into 
France. The prodigality' of these offers for the 
head of the doughty Englishman is sufficient evi- 
dence of the vast amount of harm he had occasioned 
French commerce. 

Stimulated b^^ the prospect of thes(^ glittering 
rewards, the people in the xebec maintained a suc- 
cessful watch on the Ht. (Jcorgc. At that time the 
Tuscan Government was in sympathy with that of 
France, and it added to the critical position of Wright 
by insisting that he must leave port with no more 
than four guns and twenty-five men. In keeping with 
these instructions Wright sailed from Leghorn, July 
25, 175(3, in the *S7. Gcorfic, having in company three 
small merchantmen. When clear of the harbor he 
took on board (Mglit guns which he had concealed in 
his convoys. Wright also had induced some fifty-five 
volunteers, consisting for the most part of Slavoni- 
ans, Venetians, Italians, Swiss, and a few English- 
men, to enter his convoys in the same way, and they 
also Avere transferred to the aS7. (ilforf/e. With this 
armament and complement he awaited the attack of 
the xebec. 

The action was begun about noon in full view of 
thousands of spectators, nearly all of them sympa- 
thizers of the French. In three quarters of an hour 
the xebec had her commander, lieutenant, and eighty- 
eight men killed, some seventy more wounded, and 



1776. "GENTLEMEN SAILORS." 7 

the ship herself was so cut up that the survivors were 
glad to make their escape toward the shore. Wright 
had only live men killed, one of them his lieutenant, 
and eight wounded. The result of this action so 
angered the Tuscan authorities that they seized the 
St. (icor(j(', and in all probability would have detained 
her indefinitely had not Admiral llawke, with two 
ships of the line, appeared off Leghorn shortly after- 
ward and brought them into a more friendly state of 
mind. In March of the following year Wright was 
lost at sea while on a voyage from Leghorn to Malta. 

The privateer, as understood at the outbreak of 
the war for American independence, was a ship 
armed and fitted out at private expense for the pur- 
pose of preying on the enemy's commerce to the profit 
of her owners, and bearing a commission, or letter of 
nianpie, authorizing her to do so, from the (lovern- 
ment. Usually tlie Crovernment claimed a portion of 
the money realized from the sales of prizes and their 
cargoes. The owners, of course, had the lion's share, 
though a considerable portion was divided among the 
officers and crew as an additional incentive to secur- 
ing prizes. In fact, it Was this division of the spoils, 
rather than the wages, that induced many of our best 
seamen to enter this peculiarly dangerous service. It 
frequently happened that even the common sailors 
received as their share, in one cruise, over and above 
tlieir wages, (uie thousand dollars — a small fortune 
in those days for a mariner. 

This opportunity to get rich suddenly gave rise 
to a ])eculiar class of seamen, who became known as 
" gentlemen sailors.'' All seai)orts sending out priva- 
teers were thronged with these tars of exalted d(\gree, 
and, in many cases, of long pedigree. Usually they 
were of highly respectable parentage, and in some in- 
stances belonged to well-known families. They went 
to sea, not as common seamen, but as adventurers to 
whom the chances of making ])rize money were suffi- 
cient inducement to undergo the hardshi])s and perils 



8 PRIVATEERS AND PRIVATEERSMEN. 1800. 

of the sea. Being better educated and well trained 
to the use of arms — especially excelling the ordinary 
sailor in the hitter accomplishment — they were wel- 
comed in the privatc^er, and the commander was glad 
to give them unusual privileges. They were not 
assigned to the ordinary work of the seaman, but 
formed a sort of a marine guard, standing between 
the officers and the regular crew. This arrangement 
came to be understood when the " gentleman sailor " 
shipped. The common seamen were to do the real 
drudgery of ship work, while these privileged tars 
were to be on hand when fighting was to be done. 

It seems that the " gentlemen sailors " were not 
confined to the male sex, for when our schooner 
RcreiKje was cai)tured by the British privateiM- Belle 
P(joJv the American i)risoners were ordered to Ports- 
mouth i)ris()n, ui)on which one of the prisoners an- 
nounced '' himself " to be a woman. Her love for 
adventure had induced her to don male attire, and 
she had been serving many months without her sex 
having been known. 

The officers and crews of our Government war 
ships also received a proportion of the money re- 
sulting from taking a prize, and even when they 
failed to bring the vessel to port, and in some cases 
where they lost their own ship, they received their 
share of prize money. According to a law made April 
13, 1800, the following rule for distribution of prize 
money was made for Government cruisers: "When 
the prize is of equal or superior force to the ves- 
sel making the capture, it shall be the sole prop- 
erty of the captors. If of infericu' force, it shall be 
divided equally between the United States and the 
officers and men making the capture." The act regu- 
lates the proportion in which the officers and men 
shall divide the prize money. " All public ships in 
sight at the time of making prize shall share equally. 
Twenty dollars to be paid by the United States for 
each person on board an enemy's ship at the com- 



i 



1800-1813. DISTRIBUTION OP PRIZE MONP]Y. 9 

mencement of au engagement wliicli shall be burned, 
sunk, or destroyed by any United States vessel of 
equal or inferior force. All prize money accruing to 
the United States is solemnly pledged as a fund for 
payment of pensions and half pay should the same be 
hereafter granted. If this fund be insufficient, the 
faith of the United States is pledged for the defi- 
cienc,y; if more than sufficient, the surplus is to go to 
the comfort of disabled mariners, or such as may de- 
serve the gratitude of their country.'' 

By an act made June 2(>, 1812, the prize money 
from captures made by private arme<l craft was to 
go only to their owners, the officers and crew, " to be 
distribut(Ml according to any written engagement be- 
tween them ; and, if there be none, then one moiety 
to the owners, and the other to the officers and crew. 
Two per cent, on the net amount of the prizes to be 
paid over to the collectors as a fund for widows and 
or]>hans and disabled seamen." The Government 
also paid twenty dollars bounty for every man in the 
captured vessel at the beginning of the engagement. 

Congress voted fifty thousand dollars to the offi- 
cers and crew of the Coii.sfitufioii when they ca]>tui'(MT 
the (jKcrrii'rc, and the same amount when she took 
the Jdid, notwithstanding the fact that each craft 
was desti'oyed at sea. The same sum was given to the 
c;i])tors of the MdcciJonidii. The rule for distributing 
])rize money in the navy was to divide the total 
amount into twenty equal parts. Where the sum was 
fifty thousand dollars the result was as follows: Three 
l^arts, or seven thousand five hundred dollars, to the 
cai)tain; two parts, or five thousand dollars, to the 
sea lieutenants and sailing master; two parts, or 
five thousand dollars, to the marine officers, sur- 
geon, pursei', boatswain, gunner, carpenter, mas- 
ter's males, and chaplain; three parts, or seven 
thousand five hundred dollars, to the midshipmen, 
surgeon's mates, captain's clerk, schoolmaster, boat- 
swain's mates, steward, sailmaker, master-at-arms, 

4 



10 PRIVATEERS AND PRIVATEERSMEN. 1812. 

armorer, and coxswain; three parts, or seven thou- 
sand five hundred dollars, to the gunner's yeomen, 
boatswain's yeomen, quartermasters, quarter gun- 
ners, coopers, sailmaker's mates, sergeants and cor- 
porals of the marines, drummer, flfer, and extra petty 
officers; seven parts, or seventeen thousand five 
hundred dollars, to the seamen, ordinary seamen, 
marines, and boys. As the last item, seventeen 
thousand five hundred dollars, was divided among 
some two hundred men and boys, it gave about 
eighty-seven dollars to each man, or nearly an equiva- 
lent to a year's wages. To the commander, whose pay 
varied from six hundred dollars to twelve hundred 
dollars, the sum of seven thousand five hundred 
dollars Avas a snug fortune. Each of the sea lieu- 
tenants got a little less than one thousand dollars, 
their regular pay being four hundred and eighty 
dollars. 

In case of actions between sloops of war Congress 
generally allowed twenty-five thousand dollars to our 
officers and crews if victorious, even in the case of 
^Master-rommandant Jacob Jones, where he lost not 
only his prize, the Frolic, but his own ship. For the 
battle of Lake Erie Captain Chauncey, being the 
sup(n-ior officer on the Great Lakes — although taking 
no itart in the action — received twelve thousand seven 
hundred and fifty dollars; Master-Commandant 
Perry, twelve thousand one hundred and forty dol- 
lars, his pay being only seven hundred and twenty 
dollars; Blaster-Commandant Elliott, seven thousand 
one hundred and forty dollars; each commander of 
a gunboat, lieut<Miant, sailing master, and lieutenant 
of marines, two thousand two hundred and ninety- 
five dollars; each midshipman, eight hundred and 
eleven dollars, the pay of a midshi]Muan being only 
two hundred and twenty-eight dollars; each petty 
officer, four hundred and forty-seven dollars; ma- 
rines and sailors each two hundred and nine dollars. 

These, however, were comparatively insignificant 



ITT'J-lsi:!. ENORMOUS PROFITS. H 

instances of prizo moneys. In a cruise lasting- only 
a few weeks in 1779 the United States cruisers, Qtiirii 
of France, Captain John P. Kathbonrne; the Proci- 
(h'HCC, Captain Abraliani Wliipple, who was in com- 
mand in the first overt act of resistance ai>ainst Brit- 
ish authority in America; and the RaiKjcr, Captain 
William Simpson, broniiht eiiiht merchantmen into 
Boston, their car<;oes beini;,- valued at over a million 
dollars. One of the boys in the RdiKjcr, fourteen years 
old, who less than a month before had left a farm 
to ship in this cruiser, received as his share one ton 
of suii'ar, from thirty to forty gallons of fourth proof 
Jamaica rum, some twenty pounds of cotton, and 
about the same quantity of liin^er, loj^^wood, and all- 
s])ice, besides seven hundred dollars in money. In 
many instances durini;- the War of 1812 American 
cruisers took prizes valued at over a million dollars. 
The Chcsapcdh' has been credited with bein^- one of 
the unlucky cruisers in that war, yi^i in the cruise just 
before her meetinii' with the t^Jidinioii she cai)tured one 
ship, the YoJiudvvr, the carmo of which was valued 
at seven hnndred thonsand dollars; and in the same 
cruise she took the Ellen, whose cari^o was sold in 
IJoston for seventeen thousand five hundred and sixty 
dollars. The little sloop Peaeocl:, Master-Commandant 
Lewis Warriuiiton, in one cruise took prizes valued 
at six hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars. 

The Government usually allowed a bounty for 
each prisoner broui^ht into port. This bounty 
amount(Hl to about twenty dollars a head, but in 
most cases the ]n'ivateersman ])referr(Ml to rid him- 
self of prisoners at the earliest possible monuMit. 
There were several reasons for this. Ev(Mi had the 
bounty been as hiiih as (»ne hundred <lollars a man, it 
would not have |)ai(l the successful ]>rivate(M'sman to 
nccunndate ])risoners, es])ecially when on a louii' voy- 
auc and thei-c could be no Idling' how loiii;' a cruise 
would last — for the cost of f(HHlinii- amounted to a 
lar^e sum. Then the dan<;er of haviu<;' too many 



12 PKIVATEKRS AND PKl VATKEKSMEN. 1S12-1S1:?. 

pi'isonci's was sliowii dozens of tiiiR's wluMi tlu^ cap- 
tun'd rose on llicir (•ai)tors, aiul not only ivcovered 
tlieii' own vossol, bnt made prisoners of the priva- 
teersnien. On Aniens! 2, ISlo, a law was enacted 
providinii' a bonnty of twenty-five dollars on each 
prisoner. 

The lirst and ureatost element of success with a 
privateersman was audacity. Withont that, above 
all other things, lie was doomed to iii'noniinions fail- 
nre. The reunlar man-of-warsman nii<;ht lio and 
come on his crnises withont mec^ini;- an enemy or 
taking- a i)rize and yet suffer little in the estinmtion 
of the dei>artmeut. In fact, in our lirst essays a<iainst 
tlu^ mistress of the ocean, both at the tinu^ of the 
Kevolution and in the War of 1S12, the naval com- 
mander who init to sea and regained ])ort Avith a 
whoh^ skin was reiiarded, by our then overtimid 
naval adntinistrators, as beinii' a simiularly fortunate 
and capable olhcer. Not so with a i)rivateersmau. 
To return to i)ort empty-handed was to commit the 
ureatest sin of the ]»rofession. Hence we hud that 
the i)rivateersman was ])reemin(Mit ly a bold and dar- 
inii' man, an<l when such (]ualities were combined 
with skillful seamanship we have the ideal priva- 
teersman. 

A li'ood illustration of the '* au(bicious impu- 
dence" of our ]>rivateersmen is had in the case of 
the rem] Joins, of New York. This vessel put to sea 
at the outl)r(»ak of tlu^ War of 1S12 with a comple- 
ment of one Innidred and tw'enty men, but with only 
th]-ee liuns. Almost her tirst ])rize was the heavily 
armed ITritish merchantman Hassan, carryinii' four- 
teen iiuns and a crew of twenty men, while her 
carii'o Avas worth some two liundred thousand dollars. 
The Paid J ones, though carrying- only three liuns, was 
])ierced for seventeen. It is said that the commander 
of the Paul -I ones sawed off sonu' si)are masts to the 
leniith of liuns, ])ainted tluMu black, and, beincj 
mounted on buckets, rolled them out of his empty 



1812-1778. THE ENGLISH Pill VATEERSMAN OP 177s. |;>, 

])<)i'ts ns clTectivc imitations of lioavv ordnance. Then 
filling- his i-ii;ginjj;- witli his snperfluons force of men, 
so far overawed the enemy that they surrendered 
as soon as tlie privateer, witli her dnmmj onns^ o-ot 
fairly ah)nu,side. The Americans then helped them- 
selves to such of the Jfa.ssdir.s onns and ammunition 
as they lUMMled and went on their way rejoicing. 

The ^]n^lish privateersmeu of 1778 are described 
by one of their countrymen of that period as " a. reck- 
less, dreadnauulit, dare-devil collection of human 
b(Mnj;s, half disciplined, but yet ready to obey every 
order. The service was poj^ular; the men shipi)ino- 
in privateers, being' safe from impressment, the most 
dashing and daring of the sailors came out of their 
hiding holes to enter in them. Your true privateers- 
man was a sort of half horse, half alligator, with 
a streak of lightning in his composition — something 
like a inan-of-warsman, but much more like a ])irate 
— with a superabundance of whisker, as if he held, 
with Samson, that his strength was in the quantity 
(»f his hair." So far as the " dare-devil " and '' dread- 
nanght " (jualities of this description go, they fit the 
American ])rivate(M'smen wcdl enough; but so far as 
the " whiskei-," " half h(>rse, half alligator," and " ])i- 
rate" itai'ts of it are conceruiMl the author is satis- 
lied that tlH\v are widely shy of the mark. We can 
readily beli<'v<% howevei', after reading the foll<>wing 
account of a battle betAveen an English and a l^^'remdi 
|»rivaleei', ])n])lislie<l over a century ago, that the fore- 
going description of tlie ]>i'itish ])rivateei-sman is not 
(ivei'draw n: "December 23, 1777, ('a]>tain Death, of, 
the i)rivateer TvrrUtJv, of London, was killed in an 
engageuHMit with the yciKicniivc, a ])rivateer of St. 
Malo. 'IMie auuals of mankind can not show an 
effort of more (h'spei'ate coui-age than was exerted 
under the command of ('ai»taiii Death. He had in 
the begiiiuing of his cruise made a prize of a rich 
merchantman with whicli lu' was returning to Eng- 
land in trium])h when he had the fortune to fall in 



14: PRIVATEERS AND PRIVATEERSMEN. 177S-1812. 

Willi llio Ycnijidiici', iinu'li his sii]H'ri(n- in force, tliiHv- 
six to twoiit y-six iiuiis. The 'rciTihh'.s iirizo ayjis soon 
taken and converted against her; bnt so nne(|ua]l,y 
matched, Captain Deatli maintained a fnrions en- 
piiiement. The l''ren<'h cajttain and his second in 
command wei*e kiUed with tw<> thii-ds of his com- 
l»any, bnt mnch more dr(M<lfnl was th<^ shin.nhter 
on board the Tcrfihlc. AMien the (Miemv boarde<l 
they only fonnd oiu' scene of slani^hter, silence and 
desolation. Of two hnndred nn^i only sixteen were 
fonnd remaining, and the shi]) so shattered as scarce- 
ly to be kept above Avater. The followini;' are the re- 
markable names of the (d'H<'ers of the Tcrrihlc: ('a])tain 
Death, IJentenants Spirit and <}host, l>oatswain 
Bntcdier, (^)nartei-master Debbie; lannched ont of 
Ex(M-ntion Dock, London." 

In i2,eneral, the condnct of Amei-ican ]»rivateers- 
men on the hi_<ih seas was most commendable. 
They showed themselves to b(^ not only (bu'in|4', bnt 
oentlemanly. A>'hen the schooner fiKJiistri/, ('a]»tain 
licnneanx, a ]>rize to the ]»rivateer lUiijiDiilii Frdiililiii, 
C'ai)tain Ini^crsid, of New York, reached that i)ort, 
An.unst 24, 1S12, it was learned that the craft be- 
loriii(Ml to a widow whose only (b'pen(h'nc<' \vas on 
the earniniis of that vessel. Althon^h the hhliislri/ 
had two thousand dollars' worth of ^oods aboard, 
the Americans restored her and her cariio to the 
widow. Many of oni' ]»rivat«M>rsmeii were iihmi en- 
<iaiied in the Xewfonndland fisheries, and a hardier 
or nH)re darini^' set of men wonhl b<^ difHcnlt to 
find. An American ])eriodical, of the datc^ Ani^nst S, 
1S12, n(»tes: " Abont tliirty fishing vessels have ar- 
rived at 3Iai-blehead (Mass.), fi'om the Ranks within 
a few (biys, and only three remained absent. These 
hardy and ]>atriotic citizens will .i;(Miei'ally become 
fisjicfs of sjiips/'' 

Soon after tlu^ ontbreak of the War of 1S12, Xiles, 
in his liCiiister, notes: "^^ The enemi(^s of the United 
States have used manv efforts to discredit the bnsi- 



1S12-1814. HUMANITY OF AMERICAN PRIVATEERSMEN. 15 

iiess of privateorino- in proclainiiiii;', ina!j,iiifyiii.ii', and 
reiteratiiin', under many new sliajx'S, any enormity 
that may have been committed by any of onr private 
armed vessels, and some must be expected. lint it 
confounds tliese wretclies, and affords <ireat satisfac- 
tion to the i)eoi)le at bu'<j,e, to observe tliat our priva- 
teers, in ii'eneral, liave conducted tliemselves witli 
remarkable i)ro]u-iety, in many cases receiving;- the 
public thanks of the captured. We trust tins nood 
name will be sustained, thouiih the enemy, throu<;h 
his friends here, may strive to blast it." 

The humanity of Americans who were enj^aged 
in the "business of privateering" early in the cen- 
tury is amusingly brought out in a notice which 
appeared in a London paper, published in December, 
1814: " Mr. Editor: You will please a great number 
of your readers in Great Britain, who are zealous in 
spreading the Divine Gospel all over the earth, by 
showing them that there are some American citi- 
zens who are willing to unite with us in sending mis- 
sionaries to all i)arts of the globe. The IJev. ]Mr. Ben- 
son read the following note, w^hich was transmitted 
to him b}' one of his brethren in Wales: ' A few 
weeks since a trading vessel laden with corn [wheat] 
from Gai-digan, in Wales, was taken in the ( liannel by 
an American privateer. When the captain of the 
latter entered the cabin to survey the prize he es])ied 
a small box with a hole in the top — similar to that 
which tradesmen have in their counters through 
which they <lrop their nn)ney — on which the words 
''Missionary box" were inscribed. On seeing this 
the American ca])tain seennMl not a little astounded 
and addressed the Welsh ca])tain as follows: 

'' ' " Ga])tain, what is this?" ])ointing to tlie box 
with his sti«dv. 

Oh," replied the honest Gambrian, heaving a 

sigh, " 'tis all over now." 

'• ' '' What? " sai<l the AimM'ican captain. 

*' ' " Why, the truth is," said the ^^Vlsllman, "that 



16 PRIVATEERS AND PRl VATEERSMEN. 1814. 

I aud my i)Oor follows have been accustomed every 
Monday morning- to drop a penny each into that box 
for the purpose of sending out missionaries to preach 
the Gospel to the heathen; but it is all over now."' 

" ' " Indeed/' answered the American captain, 
" that is very good.'' 

" ' After pausing a few minutes he said: " Captain, 
ril not hurt a hair of your head, nor touch your ves- 
sel," and he immediately departed, leaving the owner 
to ])ursue his course to his destined port.' " 

That all the religions qualities of American priva- 
teersmen were not confined to skippei-s fr(un New 
York is seen in the following account of the capture 
of the brig Falcon by the Anivncd : '' Among the goods 
of the valuable ])rize brig Falcon sent into Bath by the 
America of Salem were about nine hundred Bibles 
in the English and Dutch languages and five hun- 
dred Testaments forwarded for distribution at the 
Cai)e of (lood Hope by the Brifish and Foreign Bible 
Society. The ^Messrs. Crowninshield, to whom the 
privateer belonged, permitted a purchase of them to 
be made by the Bible Society of ^Massachusetts at a 
price hardly sufficient to legalize the sale — say about 
twenty cents to the jxuind sterling. The conduct of 
those gentlemen is highly spoken of in the Eastern 
papers." 

Another instance of the gallantry of the American 
])rivateersman is had in the following: 

A Mi-s. Elizabeth Bell, of Nova Scotia, happened 
to be a ])asseiiger in the schooner Aim, Captain Kelly, 
of Halifax, when ca])tured by the American priva- 
teer Dolphin, Ca]»tain Endicott. Beaching Salem 
]\[rs. Bell cause<l a notice to be i)ublished in a news- 
papei- acknowledging '' with much gratitude the gen- 
tlemanly and humane treatment of the captain and 
prize master of the DolpJiin in returning to her nine 
hundred dollars, together with her personal effects." 

A still more f^u'cible illustration of the humanity 
of American privateersmen is had early in 1782, when 



17«2-1814. ''FLEET SAILING." I7 

llio ]»i'ivnto aniKMl sloop lArcJji, ('a])tain D. Adams, of 
Alassacliusotls, resciRnl the officers aod crew of the 
British frigate liJondv which had beeu wreclced on a 
barren and desohite ishmd. The treatment wliich 
all American pi-isoners, and es]»ecially privateers- 
men, had received at the hands of 1 he British wouhl 
lia\(' almost jnstitied the comnuuKler of the Jjircli/ in 
h-avini;- thes<^ shii)\vrecked mariners to their fat(\ 
r>nt the American jack tar is a iienerons fellow, and 
nothinj;" aj»peals so sti-on.iih' to his com])assion as a 
fellow-seaman in distress, and on this occasion the 
l»eople of the Lircl// extended every assistance to their 
enemies and hroniiht them safely into port. 

So w idespread had become the i)ractice of priva- 
teering that by the oiitbi-eak of the TJevolntion Brit- 
ish merclnnitmen had two, a!id only two, well-defined 
methods of ^oinii' to sea: I'irst as a ]>art of a fleet con- 
voyed by a snitable force of wai- shi])S, or as stroni^ly 
armed '' running ships." I'leet sailing with the Brit- 
ish was the favorite^ practice and i;rew to enornions 
pro])ort ions, a th'et of one hundred merchantmen not 
bciiiu iiiinsnal. and it is i-ecorded that as many as six 
huiidred ha\'e saih'd at one time. On some occasions 
sc^veral months were s]>ent in collectini;' the Heet at 
a ]»ort convenient to the Eni^lish or Irish Channels 
— "icnei-ally at Bortsmonth or Dublin — and on a 
stated day they sailed for the East or West Indies, 
escorted by a nnmber of war ships. 

Of course, in the case of such a lar^e fleet sailing' 
its (h'i)artui-e and destination were wid(dy advertised 
in Enjiland several months before, so tliat Ann^-ican 
agents had eNcry op]»ortunity to inform their friends 
across the Atlantic of the facts. Tiie rc^sult was that 
as soon as a fleet sailed American cruisers or jiriva- 
te(M's were in waiting on llu' course the fleet must 
take, and Avere ready to ])onnce ujxtn any stray mer- 
chantman that had the ill luck to be sej)arated from 
the convoy. If it was a lariic fleet, the fla.ushi]) of the 
convov usuallv was a line of battl(» shij> commanded 



IS JMUVATEERS AND PRIVATEERSMEX. 177()-17S-2. 

by an adiiiiial, and was accoinpanit'd by one or two 
friiiatcs aiul a number of slo(»ps of war or brij^s. If a 
small tiiH't, a friuato witli one or two slooi)S of war 
was considcriMl sulTlicicnt. When ready for sea the 
admiral siunaled for all commanders to eome aboard, 
when wriiren instrnctions or " sailin<»- orders" were 
iiiven as to the meaniniLi' of the A'arions siiinals that 
mijiht be used in the course of the yoya<>e, and also 
su(di other information as niiiiht conduce to their 
safety. 

On leaving' ]tort the tlaiishi]) usually took the lead, 
and Avas known as the vanship, while a fast-sail- 
inu friuate took her i»osition in the rear so as to tow 
u]) any dull-sailinii' nu'rchantman that otherwise 
miiiht be left behind. The sloo]>s and briiis of war did 
guard duty on ea<di flank. One of the most ri«iid 
rules of fleet sailiuii' was that no merchantman 
should uo ahead of the vanship, which vessel was 
to be constantly watched for signals. Another 
ecjually riuid rule, and the one most friM^uently en- 
forced, was for the headmost ships to shorten sail 
when siunal(Ml to do so by the fla.u'shi]), and for the 
sternmost vessels to make all sail to catch up; and 
fre(|uently a frigate or a sloo]) of war was ordered 
to tow u|) some dull sailer so as to kee]) the tleet as 
com]»act as possible. In order to do this a hawser 
was made fast to tlu^ foremast of the merchantman, 
and she was towed ahead of all the other mendiant- 
men, or just und(T the vanshi])'s stern. At niuiitfall 
tlu^ siiiual *' close ordi^r " was uiven from the Haiishi]), 
and the merchantmen huddled toi^ether as closely as 
possible under the stern of the vanship and did not 
spread out a.uain until dayliiiht. 

This cumbersome arrauiiement of fleet sailini*; had 
its disadvantaii'es. AVhen such a fleet homeward 
bound was beinji,- collected in the West Indies, it was 
impossible to keej) the fact concealed from the viii'i- 
lant ])rivateersmen, and they took advantaj^e of it 
by placiuii their vessels in the c<»urse the fleet was 



lT7(i-17«2. "iXXiGIXG" MERCHANT FLEETS. 19 

obli<:TMl 1() tako. Tlioso iiiorcliaiiliiKMi iisiially were 
laden with siiuai' and cofl^'e, the most (losirable 
cariiocs for ]»i'i\ atccrsiiion, who not infrcMjiieiitly 
do_u,u('(l a coiivctv across the Atlantic in the liojte of 
jiickinu' lip some stray craft. On such occasions two 
l>rivateers actinjj;- in concert stood a much better 
chance than om^ — es]tecially if it was a small fleet, 
('sc(»rted by only one vessel; for, while the '* biiU- 
doii' "' was furiouslv chasino; one of th(^ swift-sailins; 
]»rivateei's, the other managed to pounce upon the 
prey unseam by the escort. In such cases the quick- 
est kind of N\(U-k was necessary, for althongh the 
l»ri/es wei'e i-ich and easily made, the '' bulldo.t;' •' 
niiuht be back at any monuMit. For this reason prize 
crews were ready, at the word, to be thrown aboard 
the pi-ize, run her to leeward, and then steer in <liffer- 
eiit directions so as to divi(h^ the enemy's attention. 

Ill these attacks the ju-ivateersman ojx^rated al- 
most without danger of ca])ture, for the war ships 
dari^l not juirsue too far away from their convoy. It 
has hajtjx'iKMl on more than one occasion that cap- 
tured merchantmen have been so liai-d pressed by 
the escort that the i)riz(^ crew were obliged to 
abamhm the ])rize and return to the i)rivateer in 
their boats, the war shij) usually beinii' content with 
recovering the ]>riz(\ In «lo,iiging a meridiant fleet 
acr(»ss the Allaiitic the ]»rivateersman usually can 
do nothing in the way of taking i)rizes if the weather 
is tine, but siiouhl it conu^ on thick, or a strong gale, 
he has a gohh'U o]>]»ort unity. At such times the 
merchantmen become widely scattered, and the deft 
ju-ivateei- i-uns from one to the otluM-, making easy 
captni-e. As a riil(% the si>ecie and most valuable 
goctds are hastily transferred to the privat(M'r, a i)rize 
crew phiced aboai'd the merchantman and ordered 
to s(»me port, wliih' the ])iivateer hastens to other 
con<iuests. 

The second nielhcxl of sailing in war time was to 
l)rocure swift-sailing v<'ssels, luNivily armed and 



20 PRIVATEERS AND PRIVATEERSMEN. 1795-1812. 

iiiaiiiied, whicli c-oiild rely oil their own speed or 
strength to avoid the chitehes of a privateer. These 
vessels nsnally had rich cargoes, and several Ameri- 
can privateers were fitted out for the express pur- 
pose of capturing them, with the result that many 
a liard-fought action to(dv i)lace. 

Early in the War of 1812 most of the American 
])i-ivateers were small ])ilot boats, but it was soon 
found that they were too weak to ca])tur«^ the aver- 
age trader, as most of the English merchantmen 
were heavily armed. This led to the construction 
of powerful, swift-sailing craft, mounting 12-, 18-, 
24-, and even 3()-pounders, and mann(^<l by one hun- 
dred and twenty to one hundred and sixty men — 
veritable corvettes — which were sent to sea at pri- 
vate ex])ense. Of this class were the privateers Paul 
Jones, l\os<nn()if<l, ^^druttuja, (ri'iicral Arnistroiif/, York- 
toirii, AiKicoiidd, Ixcrcin/f., VoJuutcrr, Ros.sic, Reindeer, 
A roil, and Illiikelei/. I*erha]»s the most formidable 
of all was the frigate-built shij) Aiiierlea, a ]>rivateer 
which was ]»urchased in France in 1795 b}^ George 
Crowninshield and was cominissioiKMl as a ])rivateer 
in 1802. 

Many of our merchant vessels, transformed into 
privateers, ]»roved to be formidable ci-aft. In fact, 
a large ])ro]»ortion of them w(M-e built with a view 
to siteed; for, thanks to British interference in 
our mercantile affairs, the American shipowner 
had found it ]»i'efcrable to sacrifice a little canw- 
ing s])ace in his ships to additional S])eed, as it 
would enable him to outsail the British cruiser and 
thus avoi»l disastrous delays and degi'ading impress- 
ment. Speed in the American merchant marine had 
been fostered also by the forced running trade to 
France and the West Indies, so that when the War 
of 1812 broke out the American merchantman found 
himself abundantly sui»]»lied with swift-sailing ves- 
sels. If was just this circumstance that proved to 
be the foun<lafion stone of the marv(dous success of 



1812-1815. THE SPEEDY YANKEE CRAFT. 21 

American privatecM-s in this war. The ordinary ehan- 
nt^Is of coiiiniercial entei'i)rise beiu^- chjsed by hostili- 
ties, the Aniericau merchant ^Yas (jnick to turn his 
energies to monntini;- liis fast-sailiiii; vessels with a 
few cannon, and, after manning them with a large 
com]>lement of officers and seamen, sending them out 
in (juest of his cousin's ships. Thus it was that ag- 
gressive liritish impressment on the high seas, several 
years before the war, had caused the development of 
a fleet of American merchant ships which soon ])roved 
to be a terrible scourge in the hands of the daring and 
skillful American skipper. 



CHAPTER II. 



l)A-\(iEKS PECl'LIAK TO ritlYATEERING. 



OitDiNAKiLY tlKM'c was little olory or sympathy 
for the pi-ivateersinan. The navy man went to sea 
kiiowiiiii' that if he made a ^ood ti,i;ht, even thono'li de- 
feated, his })i*ofessional standing' wonld in no Avay be 
im])aired; on the contrary, deeid(Mlly improviMl. He 
knew that if he fell he, at le;ist, wonld have the grate- 
ful record of history. Almost any man can be brave if 
he be conscions that the eye of the world is npon him. 
The average man can perform deeds of heroism when 
he knows that substantial rewards and jn-ofessional 
advancement are in stoi'e for him. Bnt it nMpnres 
a man of nnnsnal bravery to face dang(n' nntiinch- 
ingly when he realizes that no one will be cognizant 
of his <hM'ds save the immediate i>articii»ants, and 
when loss of life or limb will be regarded merely as 
his own ]t(M-sonal misfortnne. 

Our i)rivateersmen did not have the stimnlns and 
advantages of an organized scM'vice. They left port 
with the avowed intention of ]dnndering the enemy. 
If tlH'y were successful, their only reward was a 
division of tht- s]»oils; if failure attended them, they 
were kicked abont like the nnder dog in the tight. 
" Sei-ved them right," said their envions brothers on 
\i\u(\. " 'I'liey wanted to get rich too fast, while we 
poor leH(»ws are obliged to ph»d along in the nsnal 
sh»w, poking way." If the offi<"ers and men sacrificed 
life (U- liuib to s(M-ure a i)rize, no pension awaited 
them or their families. If thev came ont nnscathed 



1776-1814. AN "IMPUDENT CAPTURE." 23 

they were rewarded, perliaj^s, witli a cold '' thank 
yoii/' aiid received their share of the protits calcu- 
lated down to the last C(Mit with mathematical exact- 
ness. There was no <;ener()ns (\)ni;ress to vote fifty 
thousand dollars to them if they sank their prize in 
the effort to capture her, as was the case with the 
captors of the (iiicrriifc and Jam; neither could they 
expect twenty-five thousand dollars if they lost both 
prize and their own ship, as was the case in the 
Wa.'^p-Frolic ti<iht. 

In no light does the darino- of our privateersmen 
shine more resplendently than in this. Th(\v went 
to sea, it is true, for mere pelf, but in many instances 
they performed services of national importance. 
Scores of American seamen, like K(Miben James, 
John Cheever, Bartlett Laffey, and John ^IcFarlan<l 
won imperishable fame by acts of heroism because 
they were performed in an ori^anized service and 
under the national colors. But the privateersman, 
although materially assisting in the defense of the 
flag, could die at his post and the fact might easily 
pass unrecorded. A commander of a privateer could 
capture the king's cruisers, thereby inflicting un- 
precedented shame and humiliation on the Royal 
Navy, and the incident scarcely would be known; 
while the owners of the privateer would not thank 
him for the unwarranted risk he ran, as, ordi- 
narily, there was nothing to be got out of a war ship 
except hard knocdvs and empty holds. Had the ca])- 
ture been made by an officer of the navy in the (Jov- 
ernment service it would have been heralded abroad, 
while substantial rewards and rai)id promotion 
would have followed. 

Tender these circnmstances it is truly surprising 
that we discover acts of snch su])erb bravery among 
the Amei'ican pri^■ateel•smen, Xi^i a careful research 
into the history of that most im])ortant branch of our 
maritime ]»(>Aver shows that it is replete with deeds 
of hiM'oism. An instance of the daring of American 



24 DANGERS PECULIAR TO PRIVATEERING. 1776-1815 

privateersmen is related witli charaeteristic frank- 
ness in a London periodical of the year 1777: "An 
American privateer of twelve guns came into one of 
tlie ports of the Jersey Islands, in the En.nlish Chan- 
n(d, yester<lay mornin^n', tacked abont on the tiring of 
the guns from the castle, and jnst off the island took 
a large brig bound for this port, which they have 
since carried into Cherbourg. The American priva- 
teer had the inii)ndence to send her boat in the dnsk 
of the evening to a little island off here called Jetto, 
and nnlnckily carried off the lientenant of Northley's 
Independent Company with the garrison adjntant, 
who were shooting ral)bits for their diversion. The 
brig they took is valned at thirty-tive thonsand dol- 
lars.'' 

Charles W. Coldsborongh, who dnring the first 
twenty years of the navy's existence as a separate 
dei)artment acted as its chief clerk, relates that dnr- 
ing one of tlie many battles between British cruisers 
and American ])rivateers a cannon ball came aboard 
the latter, and, after spending its force in smashing 
things n}> indiscriminately, rolled along the, deck not 
qnite decid(Ml what to do next. An American sailor 
picked it n]* and wrote on it with a jdece of chalk, 
" Postpaid and retnrned with the conii)liments of 
Yankee Doodle; " then putting the shot in a cannon 
fired it back to its owners. 

In privateers s])eed Avas a great and ruling con- 
sideration, and in tlieir efforts to attain it the build- 
ers — having no (lovernment or public o})inion to 
check them — were a])t to get their craft dangerously 
top-heavy. This eagerness to acquire speed resulted 
<lisastrously in the case of the privateer Arroic, Cap- 
tain E. (\nikling, of Xcav York. She is described as 
a beautiful brig mounting fourteen guns and carry- 
ing a com])lement of one hundred and fifty men. 
Sailing from Ni^w York January 14, 1815, she cruised 
some time in the West Indies. After leaving one of 
those ports she w^as never heard of, and, being heavily 



1777-1815. DANGER FROM PRISONERS. 25 

spared, the opinion was generally expressed that she 
was capsized, either in a squall or dnrini;- a chase. 

Another (lander to which we may allude as being 
peculiar to privateersnien was that of prisoners ris- 
ing and overpowering their captors. This danger 
was esi)ecially great dnring long and prosperous voy- 
ages, when the i)rivateer's coniplenient was weakened 
by drafts for prize crews, and when usually there 
was a larger number of i)risouers in the ship than 
there was of the cnnv. A striking illustration of this 
is had in the case of the privateer sloop Eaf/lc, of Con- 
necticut. This vessel carried six guns and thirty 
men, also commanded by a Captain E. Conkling. In 
a single cruise she captui-cd six vessels, ''one to every 
gun," that being tlie acme of privatcvring luck as 
exi)r(^ssed by the tars of that day. A privateer that 
made more prizes than the number of guns she car- 
ried was regarded as sailing in very dang(M'ous 
waters, and was, perhai)S, (piite as objcM-tionabh^ as 
one that had made fcwcM' <a]»tures. So tliat by ca])- 
turing six >"<'ss('ls, oi- one for every gun in tlie sloo]», 
it will be seen Ihat the l''<i(/lc, on this ventnr(% lia<l 
reached the climax of privateering success. 

It was unfortunate foi* Ihm' that she took so many 
jtrizes, for by manning them all she had rcMluced her 
comi)lenient to tifte(Mi nuMi, besides which were a 
large number of jtrisoners aboard. Taking advan- 
tage of a favoi'abh' o])]K»rtunity, these ])rison«M-s rose 
on their cai)toi's, overi)ow<M-e(l them, and, ])utting all 
but two boys to death, made away with the slii]K 
They had not gone far, however, before they were re- 
cai)ture(l by the AnuM-ican ]>rivateer Ihiiicock. In the 
following year the hJat/lc was blown up in New York. 

A cas(^ somewhat similar to this was that of the 
privateeer ^'(iiiJc<<\ ("'a]»tain Johnson, of ^Fassachu- 
setts. This craft carried nine guns, sixteen swivels, 
and forty-thr(M' nuui. She was one of the first to get 
to sea in the war for American inde])emh'nce. Leav- 
ing ])or1 she made directly for English waters, and 



26 DANGEliS PErriJAll TO PRlVATEERIXa. 17Tf^-lSl2. 

in -Inly (•;i|»1i]i('(l i\\o inorcliMiit ships ( 'rc'n/Iiloii and 
ZdrlKim ijulcii witli nnn and suL:,ar. riacin«i- pi-izc 
crews in tlicsc vessels, ('a]>tain Johnson was conlinn- 
inii' I'is crnis*' in Ihcir (•onij)any wh<Mi the jtrisoners 
in llio i»i'i/.(^s rose, seenred tlieiv (•a])tors and tluMr 
vessel, and then joined in an attack on the YdHlxCc. 
IJeini; short-handed, thron,i;h niannin<i' his prizes, 
('ai)tain Johnson Avas conijxdled to surrender. He 
was taken to ])ov<m' with his men and imprisoned. 

Onr ]n-ivateei-sm<'n were esjKMiallv exposed to the 
an«j,er of British naval otticers, and there were bnt 
few instances in which they Avere treated mnch b<4ter 
than i»irates. On Decc^nber 1, 1S12, the i»rivateer 
JacVs Furor il(\ Captain ^Miller, of New York, put into 
St. Tiarts for ]n*ovisions. A few days later the British 
12-<;nn war schooner ^^iihtlc, Captain Brown, entered 
the sann^ i»ort, and her commander boasted, in th(» 
]>res(Mice of a nnmber of mercdiants and others, that 
he Avonld '' follow and 1ak(^ the damned Yankee priva- 
teer if he went to hell for her." When Captain ^liller 
sailed ont of the harbor, the SiiJttlc followed and iiave 
chase. Not wishing- to (miiaiie a man-of-war, the 
Americans cari'i<Ml a ]»r(^ss of sail, and the En<>lish- 
men also s])rea<l all the canvas their craft conld stand 
nnder. While the two vessels were staiijuerini;' nnder 
the ]>ressui-e, a s(inall came u\). Tht^ Americans 
adroitly took in their canvas so as to receive the 
brunt of the blow under bar(^ ])oles, but their ])ursuer 
was ca])sized. In a few minutes the scpiall l)lew over, 
and Ca]»tain Miller, failing- to discover the sliiihtest 
trace of his foe, was moved by motiv(»s of humanity 
to retrace his course. On i-eachini; the S]»ot where 
the ^^lll)ll(^ Avas last seen he found a few caps and ham- , 
mocks tloatinii in the watei'. This Avas all that was ', 
left of the Siihllc, all of her ]>eo])le haviui;' _i;'one down 'f 
with her. if 

Little or nolhinii was done to ]iension oi* assist > 
the families of unfortunate ]n-ivateers in our war for 
iiule]»en(lence, but on June 5, 1813, the Navy Depart- 



]si:!. 



PENSIONING PRIVATEERSMEN. 



27 



nieiii issued tlio following' ordiM': "To oiinblo those 
who may bo wounded or disabled in any eii«iaj;eiueii1 
with tlie enemy to obtain certificates entitlinj^; them 
to pensions, tlie like r(\iinlations and restrictions as 
are used in relation to the navy of the United t^tates 
are to be observed, to wit: That the commandinjj;- 
officer of every vessel having a commission, or letters 
of marqne or reprisal, cause to be given to any officer 
or s(^aman wlio, during his cruise, shall 'have been 
woun<led or disabled as aforesaid, a certificate of the 
surgeon on board, to be api)roved and signed b}^ such 
commanding officer, describing the nature and de- 
gree, as far as practicable, of such wound or dis- 
ability, naming his i)lace of residence and the rate 
of wages, if any, io whi( h he was entitled at the time 
of receiving such wound or disability; and that such 
certificate be transmitted to this dei)artment. 

" The widows (or ori)hans, where the wife is dead) 
of those ])ersons who may be slain in any engage- 
ment with the enemy, on board such vessels, will be 
entitled to ]>ensiou certificates upon forwarding to 
this office i>roof from the commanding officer of the 
vcss(d to whi<di su(di persons were attached of their 
having been slain as aforesaid, and the certificate of 
a justice of the i)eace for the county in whicdi such 
widows or orphans may reside that they actually 
stand in that relation to the deceased." 



I ) 



rTTAPTRTJ TTT. 



(•( >L( ).\ 1 A 1> I'Kl N'ATF.KRS. 



The first Aniei-icaii sea fi^ht of which we have 
reooi'd was in tlie nature of a i)rivate enterprise. In 
May, 1 (;:>(;, Mr. Ohlliam, wliiU' sailing in Lono Island 
Sound, near Plum Island, in a tradini^' vessel, was 
niurdc^'cMl by the Narra.iiansett Indians and his vessel 
seized. Scareely had the savai;es taken possession 
of tlieii' ]>riz(* when J(din (Jallop, who also Avas eruis- 
inii ill that vicinity in a twonty-ton sloop, came upon 
the scene and reco|L;nized the vessel as Mr. Oldham's, 
the latter havini;' sailed only a f(^w days before with 
a crow of two white boys and two Narragansett In- 
dians. Api)rt>achinjL; Oldham's vessel (xallop hailed, 
and reeeivini; no answer he ran (dose alongside and 
discovered fourteen Indians huvj; on the deck appar- 
ently endeavorinj; to avoid detection. 

Noticing that a canoe manned by Indians and 
loaded witli i^oods was leavini;' the craft, (lallo}) was 
convinced that somethinii was wronii'. This belief 
was stren;L;th('n<Ml wlion the savai;('S in the vessel 
sli])])(Ml the cable and attiMiipted to make off in the 
direclien of Xan-aiiansett Bay. Oallo]) now fired a 
volley from his small arms into the vessel. Th(^ sav- 
a5i,es bein^ii' armed, for the most i)art, with s]»ears 
knives, and tomahawks, were qui(d<ly driven belo^ 
only the few ]»ossessin;Li,' firi^arms makinj;' any show ( 
fii;ht, and these also (|uickly sought the protection t 
the hold. I'earin!Li' to board in the presence of sc 
many eniMnies (lallo]) maneuvered so as to run the 



16;'.6. OUR FIRST SEA FIGHT. 29 

vessel (.lowii, and in a few niinntes succeeded in giv- 
ing lier a blow with his prow that sent her careening 
on her beam ends. Thinking that their prize was 
about to cai)size, six of the Indians ran on deck, threw 
themselves into the sea, and were drowned. 

(lallop now rigged his anchor over the bow in such 
a manner that the tluke would act as a spur which 
might pierce the thin sides of Oldham's vessel. Fill- 
ing away (}allo]> again rammed, the anchor Huke 
crashing through the side of the jti'ize. The white 
men tiien began firing down the hold, but, finding 
that this did not dislodge the remaining natives, Clal- 
lo]) sheered off and ]»re])ared to bunt again. Before 
this could be don(% three or four more Indians rushed 
to the (h'ck and jum]»ed into the sea, where they also 
perished. One Indian now a[»])eare<l and made signs 
of submission. He was taken aboard the s1<k)j>, an<l, 
being bound, was ])laced in the hold. Then another 
Indian offered to subnut. He was taken aboard, but 
fearing tliat the savages might arrange some ]>lan 
for ov(M'powering him Oallop caused him to be thrown 
into the sea. 

There were now oidy a few Indians remaining 
aboard tlie ]>rize, but they were ai'uied, and occu]»y- 
ing a small a]>artment b(d(>w, whei'e they could not 
be easily reached, tliey ]U'e]>ared to sell their lives 
deai-iy. IJeiiio\ing all tlie goods in the prize to his 
ship, (Jalh)]) hauh-d u]) for tlu^ Connecticut shore with 
the sh)o]» in tow. As tlie wind increas<^d soon after- 
ward, Ihe tow was ctit adrift, and finally Avent ashore 
somewhei-e in Xai*ragans(^tt l>ay. Oldliam's body, 
horribly mutilated and still warm, had been discov- 
chmI by ( Jalh»]). When tlu^ news of this affair r(Niched 
he authorities in .Massachusetts an exi)edition was 
Mit out under Mi-. Kndicott, and the Narragansett 
idians were severely ])unished. 

In 1(14.") a coloiual shij) cai*rving fourteen guns and 
irty m<'n had an all-day fight with a rover of Bar- 
rv which is said to have carried twentv cuus and 



30 COLONIAL PRIVATEERS. iwr,. 

seventy men. The action took place near the Straits 
of Gibraltar. Xi^lit ]>nt an end to the strnoi.le and 
the vessels separated, the rover with a loss of her 
rudder. The American ship was bnilt at Cambridge, 
Massachns(4ts, and had been tradinjn' in the Canaries. 

For the first hundred years and more after the 
establishinj^' of the colonies in the New World, the dis- 
tinction b(4ween ]»rivateers, slavers, i)irates, and even 
Government cruisers was vai;ue, and at times obliter- 
ated altogether. It was a period in which, on the 
high seas, might was right; and when their home 
Governments were at war with each oth(n' — and some- 
times when at }»eace — the colonial seaman scdzed 
whatever he could, whether he was a i)irate, i)riva- 
teersman, or a king's otticer. Tin' astonishing growth 
of commerce in the New W<U'1<1 made it a tempting 
held for de]»re<lations of every kind, and the result 
was that high-handed proceedings on the o])en sea 
was the rule rather than the exception. As a result 
of this chaotic state, the colonists found themselves 
com]>elled to maintain cruisers at tln^r own exi)ense, 
while traders wore as carefully prepared for hghting 
as for carrying merchandise. 

In some sea])orts ther(^ was a general connivance 
on the jKirt of the peo]»le at this state of affairs so 
long as th(^ (le])redations were directed against 
'' others." At Charleston, South Carolina, ]drates of 
all degrees walked the streets Avitli im])unity. Men 
well known for their ]»articipation in ]>iratical deeds 
were welcomed by those among whom they S])ent 
their ill-gotten gains. In some cases th(\y were tried, 
but the juries always managed to return a negative 
verdict. 

One authority says: ^^ It is true that as long as 
the pirates ])reyed on Spanish shi])s, and were free in 
sjK'uding S])anish gold and silvei* in Charleston, they 
wei'e welcomed th<M-e, at least by those who were 
beneficiaries. Tln^ authorities frowned, not very 
darkly, it is true, and made feeble efforts to suppress 



Um. WINKING AT PIRACY. 31 

these visitors; but tlie juries were made up of the 
people, aud theu, as now, public sentiiu<Mit ruled, the 
law to the contrary uotwithstandinj;-. Of course, 
piracy was illegal whether the colonists were the suf- 
ferers or not; but it was difticult for the authorities 
to obtain proof of the guilt of these men, and they 
could not be punished on suspicion — a provision of 
the law which the public commended. Man}' of the 
pirates came and went without (juestion; others 
against ^^•]l(>m charges were made gave security for 
good behavior till the Lords Proprietors could grant 
a general ])ardon. And no trouble was taken to ob- 
serve how they behaved themselves when away from 
Charleston. Governor Ludwell was ordered to 
change the manner of securing juries so as to enable 
the authorities to convict the pirates, and the Pro- 
prietors ordered that they be tried under the laws 
of England, which were more severe than those of 
Cart>]ina. Put by lavish ex])enditure of nione}^ the 
sea robbers made so many friends that it was diffi- 
cult even to bring them to trial and impossible to 
convict. They secured the best legal talent in the 
colony, and their strong defense by the prominent 
and influential men who w(M'e the lawyers in those 
days had its effect upon that class which made up 
the juries. 

'' Many of the pirates retired on their fortunes, 
purchased lan<ls in the colony about Charleston, and 
made their homes there, becoming subjects of King 
Oeorge, and doubtless leading honest lives. While 
it is now ini])ossible to ascertain those among the 
law-abiding citizens of South Carolina whose pa- 
ternal ancestors harassed the Sj^anish shipowners 
two hundred years ago, it is quite certain that many 
of the taxpayers in this State could claim that dis- 
tinction. Put the condition of ]>iracy can not be 
UK^isured by present lights. In those times of almost 
incessant war, when one Government commissioned 
individuals to rove the seas and rob its enemies' ships 



82 



COLONIAL PRIVATEERS. 170(i-16!)0. 



of coiiinicrce, the step from the privateer to the pirate 
was natural, and the moral difference not very 
marked. Men of very good family became pirates 
becanse they loved adventure; it was i)rofitable if 
they were not hanged, and they had nothing to do at 
home except tight." 

We can better understand this leniency toward 
the outlaws when we remember that in the Spanish 
attach on Charleston in 170(1 the authorities did not 
scrui>le calling on these " desi)erate " nu^n to enlist 
in the vess(*ls hastily pre]>ared for defensi^ of the town. 
The S]>ainsli force, command(Ml by a French admiral, 
consisted of four war shiits and a galley. To o])pose 
them Li(Mitenant-(\>lonel lihett, with a commission of 
vice-admiral, collected all the armed vessels in i)ort 
and offered battl(% bnt the enemy, having suffered 
reverses on shore, tied j)recipitately. A f(nv days 
afterward the colonists learn(Ml that a large shii) be- 
longing to the enemy was on the coast. (Joing out 
with two (d' his vessels, Khett captured lier.^ 

It was when these rovers of the seas began to 
plunder the colonists themselves that real steps were 
taken to ])ut a sto]> to their unlawful practices. In 
1(59!) the culture of rice in Carolina had developed 
to such prop(U*tions that tli(M-e were not enough ships 
available to transport the commodity to England. In 
that year a ])iratical ship was fitted in the W<^st In- 
dies and captured several vessels bound for Charles- 
ton, their crews being s(uit aslior(^ in boats. Owing 
lo a (juarrel over the division of booty nine of the 
pii-ates were set on shore, and, making t\nnv way to 
Charleston, were recognized by some (d' the men cap- 
tured in the merchant vess(ds. The enormity of 
]>iracy was then ap]»arent to the colonists, and these 
men were S(Mzed and seven of tluMu were hanged, 
whiledhe other two were imprisoned. 



' Foi- tlio several exi)e(liti(iiis against tlie French in Canada see 
Maclay's History of the Xa\ y, vol. i, pp. 7-13. 



1718. STEED BONNETT. 33 

Early in the eii;hteeiitli centiiry a nest of pirates 
was established on the island of Providence, in the 
Bahamas, from which place they sent out ships to 
prey on commerce. Another headqnarters of the sea 
robbers was opened near the month of Cape Fear 
Iviyer, and for many years these parts of the Atlantic 
were completely in their possession. Shipowners in 
England in 171S appealed to the Crown, and Captain 
Woods Rogers saile<l a,nainst Proyidence with sev- 
eral war ships. At that time it was estimated that 
there were several hnndred men on tlu^ island, and 
all bnt one hnndred of them accei)ted the kinju's i)ar- 
don and ^ave np the nidawfnl ]»ractic(\ The re- 
mainder, nnder the leadershijt of Ca]»tain \'ane, es- 
caped in a vessid, and, sailing nj) tlu^ coast, captured 
two merchantnu^n from Chai-lestoii bonnd for London. 

Learning- that two piratical ships had pnt into 
Cai)e Fear IJiver, (xovernor Johnson commissioned 
Colonel Khett to command a war shij) titt(Ml n]> for 
the pnrpose and sail aj^ainst these ontlaws. One of 
the tv/o piratical craft was a sloop carrying; ten liuns 
and commamhMl by Ca])tain Steed Ronnctt, " a hand- 
some yonnji,' fellow," who was said to be a mcmb(n' of 
an old Enjilish family. Being reckless and wild he 
had chosen to be a pirate chief. The second vessel, 
commanded by Richard AVorley, carried only six gnns. 
These two i*overs had be(Mi in the habit of boldly 
crnising ofl' Charl<*st(>n harbor for days at a time and 
in i>lain sight of the town, waiting for the first mer- 
chantman that might ventur*^ ont. 

At the time Rhett sailed, St <hm1 Bonnett was doing 
duty in tlu' blockading vessel. On mnking out the 
force of RlK'tt's shii> lionnett sailed for Ca])e I'ear 
River, hotly ]»nrsne(L AMien within the entrance of 
the river Rhett came uj) with tlu' ]»irate, aiul after 
tiring a few shots induced the fre<d)ooter to lunil 
down his flag. ]>(^fore cons<'nting to give themselves 
nj), however, the pirates sti]nilated, nn(h'r threats of 
bloAving np their ship and involving their cai)tors in 



34 



COLONIAL PRIVATEERS. 1046-1660. 



the explosiou, that they should receive no imuishment 
for their offenses. Khett could only promise that he 
wouhl use liis influence in their belialf, upon which 
the pii-ates, 1o the number of forty, were brought into 
Charleston with their sloop. 

(lovernor Johnson then sailed in search of Worley, 
taking command of the colonial cruiser in person. 
He met the piratical craft about seyenty-flve miles 
north of Charleston and a desixM-ate action immedi- 
ately was begun. The pirates fought with the ferocity 
of despair, well knowing the fate that awaited them 
in case of capture. Although much inferior in force 
they inflicted great damage in the colonial cruiser, 
killing a number of imui and wounding more. Final- 
ly, every man in the ])iratical ci-aft was killed or dis- 
abled, saying Woi-ley himself and his second m com- 
mand. These two fought a gun until d(^sperately 
wounded, when they surrendered. They were taken 
into Charleston and hanged. 

In the case of Steed Bonnett there were the old- 
time delays and legal hitches, so that it was about a 
year after his capture before he was hanged. His 
forty com]>ani<)ns, however, were ])rom])tly executed 
after conyiction, which was a few days after their ar- 
riyal in ])ort. They were all hang(Ml on the same day, 
on the spot where the beautiful Battery now is, and 
their bodies were buri<Ml a few yar<ls away, below high 
water, in the Ashley Kiyer. 

As early as KUG the colony of New Haven caused 
a vessel of one hundred and flfty tons to be built at 
Ivhode Island foi' the ])uri)ose of ])rotecting her com- 
merce. This craft was lost at sea on lier first cruise. 
Soon afterward the settlements of Hartford and New 
Haven united in fitting out a yessel carrying ten guns 
and forty men to cruise in Long Island Sound for pro- 
tection against the Dutch and against " all other evil- 
doers." Connecticut, in 10(15 -'()(), maintaincKl an 
armed yessel at Watch Hill to ju-eyent the Narragan- 
sett Indians from crossinji' and attacking the Montauk 




The jjtrate.s fuuy/it tvif/i tlit ferucity of chspaii 



I 



ll 



1033-1076. BLX'CANEERS ON NP]W ENGLAXI) COAST. p,^ 

tribe. In view of tlie fact that by 1()7(> Massaclnisclts 
alone liad constrneted over seven liimdred vessels, 
varyinji' in toniiai;e from six to two hnndred and tifty 
tons, and C'onneeticnt boasted of one thousand tons of 
shipping;', it is not strange that we find the colonial 
governments fitting ont war craft at their own ex- 
pense, and that merchants armed their vesscds with 
cannon. 

It was not long before buccaneers began to scent 
this rich booty. This class of sea rovers seems to have 
originated in the West Indies. They wore outlaws 
who swarmed aronnd Tortngas, and at tirst contented 
themselves by attacking vessels from the s]ior(\ Keii- 
dered bold by their first successes they increased in 
numbers, and gradually ventured farther, until they 
began to infest the (Mitire North American coast. 
Less than a dozen years after the landing of the Pil- 
gi'iiiis, one David Bull, with a crew of fifteen English- 
men, committed acts of ])iracv on New England fisher- 
men, and even attacked settleni(»nts. AVitli a view to 
captui-ing him and guarding against other freebooters 
the lilrs.s'uiji of flic lidi/, a bark of thirty tons, in 1().32, 
was launcluMl. l?(d'oi*e this boat could get to sea, how- 
ever, tlie fishermen themsclvc^s liad manned sev<M-al 
])innaces and shallo])s, in which they made three ex- 
])e(litions in search of the marauders, but without 
success. 

It is probable, however, that the charges against 
I>ull wei-e somewhat exaggerated, as the stern I'liri- 
tans were apt to regard levity of any kind as souk^- 
thing akin to crime. It is stated that one of the 
" serious accusations " against Bull and his men was 
thai wlien the New England fisli(n-men assembled on 
deck at the hour of ])rayer Bull caused his men to 
sing boisterous songs and shout meaningless jdirases, 
which might well horrify tlu^ strict Puritan, Avho has 
been known to condemn A\'omen to death on the mere 
suspicion of witchcraft. A certain Stone also was 
seized bv the New Englanders in 1G33 and bounden 



36 COLONIAL PRIVATEERS. Ififl6-1701. 

to n|)]»(';u' Mt the Admiralty courts in England, as 
InAuix soiiieliow foniuM'ttMl with piracy. The i;Tand 
jury discliariix^d hiui, aud it is b(4icved that the real 
cause of his ari-est was a charge of adultery. 

The cas(^ of Captaiu \\'illiaui Kidd is a ^<»od illus- 
tratiou of the ueueral looseuess on the hinili seas at 
this time. A lar^e uumber of ])riyateers had been 
fitted out at New York, aud there were reasons to 
believ<' that they did not always <-outiu<^ their atten- 
tions to the enemy's commerce, but ai)proi)riated 
o'oods of the colonists. A\'ith a view to (du^ckinjLi,' these 
de]>redations a ]>rivateer was fitted out, with sanction 
of the (Jovernment, and (\i])tain Kidd was ])laced in 
couiuiaiKl of her. In this enterprise thc^ ITioh Lord 
(Miaucellor aud s<'veral other distiniiuished iu)blemen 
had shares, while on(" tenth of the ])rofits were to re- 
vert to theCi'own. The vessel sailed from Plymouth, 
Eui^land, in l(t9(J, but instead of directing' his energies 
against the lawless privateers and pirates on the 
American coast Kidd spent three years in the Indian 
Ocean i)luudering the commerce of all nations. Pie 
finally turned his prow toward America, and, anchor- 
ing iu (lardiner's Bay, buried some of his treasures 
on (lardinei-'s Island, whicdi for many years has been 
owned by a family of that name. Kidd intrusted Mr. 
(lai'diner with his secret and then sailed away, bury- 
ing other treasures at different })oints along the shore. 

Ki(bl then ]»aid and dis(diarged his creAV, and, ap- 
pealing in I>oston in KJOll, was arrested. Among his 
]>a]»ers was found a list of his buried tr(^asures, and 
when the ofHcials ])resented themsidves to Mr. Gar- 
diner the rover's box of booty was r(M-overed. The 
])lunder consist (m1 of bags of gold dust, gold and silver 
bars, jewelry, lam]»s, etc.; in all valued at about 
twenty thousand ihdlars. Kidd was sent to England 
and tri<'d, and it is a curious comuieiitary on the times 
to ii(»te that, on ^lay tl, 1701, he was executed, not for 
l>iracy, but on the charge of killing one of his own 
crew. 



1705. MURDER OF LIEUTENANT HOUGH. 37 

We ran easily believe that siieli a eareer as that of 
Captain Kidd's was possible — and that many other 
similar depredations, on a smaller scale, were per- 
petrated — when we come to investii>ate the condition 
of society in the colonies duriug- this period, for it 
appears that not only were the i)rivateersmen lawless 
on the high seas, but were quite as nnrnly when in 
port. ^Nlany mnrders in which this class of mariners 
acted as principals were committed in the streets of 
New York, so that it was unsafe for citizens to a])pear 
w^hen any considerable number of these craft ^yov^' in 
port. 

On the ni^ht of September 19, 1705, an unusually 
large number of i)rivateers hai)i)ened to be in the har- 
bor, many of them recently returned from successful 
voyages, and as a consequence the ale and win<^ 
houses were crowded and the streets w<n'e filled with 
drunken, boistiM-ous, and dangerous gangs of seamen 
ready for any mischief in which to engage their 
whipped-uj) energies. One of the many disturbances 
took place in front of a house in which the sheriff of 
New York lived. As he was endeavoring to disperse 
the mob that ollicial was set upon and beaten, wliile 
several citiz<Mis who came to his assistance were seri- 
ously wounded. In a short time privateersmen from 
various parts of the town met in fi*ont of the sheriff's 
house and assumed such a threatening tone that 
troops from the fort were sent to repress them. At 
the same time the sheriff, together with some men be- 
longing to the British war shi])S in ])ort, liastened to 
the sc-ene of trouble. 

T^nfortunately, before tlu^se several bodies repre- 
senting law and order could get together, the priva- 
teersmen met Lieutenani AVharton l^^atherstone 
Hough and Ensign Alcock, two <tffic('i-s of Colonel 
Livesay's regiment, which had just arrived in the 
Jamaica fi<'et. These men were peaceably returning 
to theii' lodgings when they fell in Avith the rioting 
seamen. The tmsign was knocked down s(^veral times 



38 COLONIAL PRIVATEERS. 171:^-177!^. 

aiul badly bruised. His sword was lakcii Cioiii liiiii, 
and it is iKdit-vcd that this was the weapon which was 
thrnst thi-on.uh IJcntenant lIon<;h's heart a moment 
later, killini;' him instantly. 

At this jnnctnre the itrivateei'smen were set npon 
by the sheriff's i)osse and by the man-of-warsmen, and 
a' o-eueral tii;ht toidv ]da('(\ The discijdine <d" the 
trained seamen soon i)revailed over the nnoriianized 
ij,anii of rioters, and in a few niinntes the latter wt^re 
tieein«i' in all directions, leavini; a nnmber of their 
comra<les dead in the street, besides several wonnded 
and a ihuiiIxm- as jtrisoners. Most of these privateers- 
men w<'re frcMu the private armed bri<;antiue Dragon, 
Captain ( Jiidcs. 

The behavior of the American privateersman while 
in ])ort, howev(M-, was no Avorse than that of his eonsin 
across the sea. Kniilish acconnts statt^ that even as 
late as 177S tlier(^ was ixwui difticnlty in maintaininj^- 
order in the city of Liver])ool when any considerable 
nnmber of i>rivateersmen was in ])ort. One record 
says: '' The ])i-ivateersmen, when they came into port, 
were the terror of the town, and committed many 
excesses. So ontra,u«'ous did their conduct become 
that in 1T7S the mayor of Liverjtool issued a procla- 
mation cantionin;Li' these lawless jiersons that he 
wonhl in futiiic call in the aid of the militai*y for th<^ 
pi-otection of th(^ lives and itroperty of the peaceable 
inhabitants." 

Piracy incr(Nised rather than diminished on the 
North American coast after the peace of 171.'^; the 
ship Whiddli, of twenty-three liuns and one hnndred 
and tliiity men, nn«ler the command of ('a])tain 
Samnel Uellamy, seizing vessels off' the X(nv En<;land 
coast as late as 1717. His career was cnt short by 
a storm, in \\hich his vessel was wr(M'ked off' (^ape 
Cod, more than one lnindr(Ml bodies beini^' washed 
ashore. Six of his men who escaped the sea were 
seized, tried in l>oston, and executed. These drastic 
measures did much toward cleai-iiiii' the coast of free- 



17123-1745. ACTIVITY OP EARLY PRIVATEERS. 39 

booters, but did not (wti^i'iiiinate them (Mitircly, for wo 
find that in 1723 a British sh>oj) of war ontorod New- 
port with tw(^nty-five pirates wlio were sentenced to 
be hanjied. 

After the peace of rtre(dit most of the ('oh)nies 
maintained small armed vessels for the i>r()t(M'tion of 
their coasts an<l commerce, some of their commanders 
afterward entering the Iloyal Xavv. One of these 
officers was ('a]»tain Wooster, of Massachnsetts, who 
was killed in the Kevolution, at Danbnry, while hold- 
ing- the rank of brigadier-general. When England 
declared war against Spain in 178!) many American 
armed vessels were employed as trans]»orts. 

It was in tlie war against France, which broke out 
in 1744, that American i)rivateers first b(^gan seri- 
ously to assert themselves as a distinctive sea force. 
Besides the highly important part they i)layed in the 
expedition against Loiiisbiirg,^ a large nnmber of 
privateers ])nt to sea on their own responsibility and 
made indei)endeiit cruises against the en(Mny. The 
profits resulting from some of these ventures were 
enormous, it freijuently ha]>])ening that a singh^ cruise 
netted a common sailor on<^ hundrcMl ])ounds, while 
in one instance it is recorded that one hundi'ed ami 
sixty ]>ou:ids were riMlizc^l by each seaman — a re- 
spectable fortune for a sailor in those days. 

After the 2(l-gun shi]> »s7n'r/f //, ('a]>tain Kouso, had 
com]>leted her work in the Louisburg ex]»e(lition, May, 
1745, sh(^ se])arated froiii lu^r consorts and cai»tured 
eight l*^r(Mic]i vessels, two of which made a deter- 
mined r(^sistanc(\ l-'or this service Captain l\ous(^ 
receiv(Ml a captain's commission in the king's service. 

In June, 1744, th<^ ju'ivateers llcxtcr and PoUji en- 
tered New York hai'bor with a ])rize, a new brig laden 
with cocoa, the share of each American sailor being 
eleven thousand pounds of the cargo. 

In August of the following year the ])rivateer 



^ See MiU'liiy's History of the iS^avy, vol. i, \)\). 10-18. 



40 COLONIAL PRIVATEERS. 1745-1 746. 

('HhIoh l)i'(»n:L!,lit into the saiiio jtort L<i Pomona, a sloop 
of one IiuikIi'cmI Jiiid eiiility tons, carrying- fonrteen 
<;nus and forty-tliret' men. This craft was taken with- 
out h)ss. Her carj^o consisted of eighty-eioht casks 
of suoar, two Imndred and thirty-seven casks of in- 
digo (or eiiility-seven thousand live hundred pounds 
of thai coinniodity), and fifteen bales of cotton. In 
the capture of this vessel the coinniandt'r of the 
dill foil is reported as haviiij;' acted in a highly honor- 
able manner. After La Pomona had been boarded, 
the American sailors were requested by their com- 
mander to " desist " from plunderin«»' the passengers, 
officers, and sailors of the prize. The tars acquiesced, 
and the master of La Pomona was so affected by the 
delicacy shown that on his arrival in New York he 
gave the officers and crew of the (liiifoii "a very 
handsome treat of a hogshead of ])iinch and an ox 
roasted whole." 

A large, heavily armed French ship, the Rising 
l^iiii, was taken by a clever stratagem in 174G. This 
vessel belonged to a tieet of merchantmen convoj^ed 
by three men-of-war, and for several days the Ameri- 
can privateer Prince Charles, Captain Tingley, hung 
on the ontskirts of the convoy in the hope of an op- 
])()rtunity to attack. The Prinee (liarJes herself had 
been a l^rench ci-aft taken by an American privateer, 
and, on being rtffitted, was " reckoned the stoutest 
vessel fitted out of North America." She was of three 
Imndred and eighty tons burden, carried twenty-four 
carriage gnus (mostly !)-]»ounders) and thirty-four 
s^vi^('ls, besides a com})lemeiit of two hundred men. 
The liisiin/ Sun also was a formidabh^ vessel for a 
]»rivate armed craft, carrying twenty-two heavy guns 
and a corres]»onding com])l<Muent. Had the two ves- 
sels met scpiarely, a desjterate battle, with a doubt- 
ful ontcom(% would hav(^ resulted. Not that Captain 
Tingley had any objections to a fair yardarm and 
yardarm light, but, like the shrewd, calculating 
Anu'rican that he was, he did not see the use of 



];4f!-l74r. CAPTURE OF THE RISING SUN. 41 

slie(l<liiii; blood ^^ hen i\n' ]>rize might be tal-ceii by a 
strataj;eiii. 

After dos^giiiii' tlie fleet three days he came upon 
the Ri.s'ui;/ ^^loi separated from the other vessels. Piit- 
tiuj;- on a bold front, the American commander affect- 
ed to b(^ a i-eiiular man-of-war and demanded the sur- 
render of the /lisiin/ Sim. To assist him in the decep- 
tion Captain Tin<iley armed a number of his men like 
marines and i)laced <2,renadier ca]>s on their heads, and 
arranj^-ed to have those im])osin_ii' hea<lpieces appear 
just above his bulwarks, wliei'c the enemy could see 
them. The trick worked admirably, and the French- 
men surrendered with no more resistance than em- 
jthatic ]>rotests. The Ris'ukj Shii arrived off Sandy 
Hook early in April. Her carj^o consisted of one 
thousan<l one hundred and seventeen hogsheads of 
sugar, four hundred and tlfty-eiglit casks of coffee, 
and other goods, besides sitecie. She drew eighteen 
feet of water, so that some ditticulty was experienced 
in getting her over the bar. 

Early in June, 1T4(), the privateers Dnif/on and 
(i)'(!/li()iiii(] a]>i)(^are(l in New York harbor in a sorry 
])light. They had with them as a ])i-ize the S])anish 
privateer (iraudv Diahlo, which they had manned and 
used as a consort. The three vessels subseciuently, 
while ci'uising in the (Julf of ^fexico, fell in with a 
S]>anish war shij* nu)unMng thirty-six guns and 
manned by three hundred men. The privatcH^-s began 
an attack on the cruiser and kept it u]) for two 
days. By that time the four shi])s had been reduced 
to wrecks, and the Americans, having exhausted their 
ammunition, hauled off. The Spaniard had her flag 
shot away in the course of the engagement, but re- 
hoisted it on the withdrawal of Ihm' assailants. 

That the line between privateering and piracy was 
not very distinctly drawn by the middle of the eight- 
eenth century is shown in an item published in one 
of the " news])apers " of New York in 1747: " ('ai)tain 
Trou]>, in the privatcHH* brig Roi/tiJ Ilcslcr, of this port, 

G 



4^2 . COLONIAL PRIVATEERS. 1^44-1758. 

lately met with a Danish vessel that had a Spanish 
niei'chantinan with ei<iht thousand pieces of money 
on board, ('ai)tain Troup thoui^ht proper to accept 
of the money, and, payin*;- the Dane his freight, very 
civilly dismissed him." ^ 

Captain Tronj) also commanded the privateer 
Sfiinli/ IU'<i<i(ir, a shi]> carrying twenty-six gnns and 
credited with a com])lement of two hundred men. In 
fact, a majority of the colonial i)rivateers carried 
heavy armaments and large complements, the aver- 
age probably Ixnng not far from eighteen guns and 
one hundred and thirty men, making them really 
more formidable than the average cruiser of that day. 
Kee])ing this fact in mind, it will n«>t be ditticult to 
believe the statt^ment made in the Weekly lV)st Boy 
of September 3, 1744: '' Tis comi)ut(Ml there will 
be before winter one hundred and thirteen sail of 
])rivateers at sea from the British-American colonies, 
most stout v(^ssels and well manned. A naval force, 
some say, ecpial that of (Jreat Britain in the time of 
Queen Elizabeth." 

In January, 1758, the 14-gun jn-ivateer Tlindoe, 
Captain ]Mantle, having a complement of eighty-four 
men, had a hard-fought action with the French ])ri- 
vate armed ship Les Deux Aiiiis, Captain Felix. The 
Frenchmen carried only ten guns, but had a comple- 
ment of ninety-eight m<Mi, who, as the battle was 
fought at close (piarters, made good use of their small 
arms. This was tli(^ i»rinci])al, if not the most obsti- 
nately contested, sea fight between privateers in this 
war. The action lastcMl over two hours, and " it 
was not," so an old-time record declares, " until 
three hundred i)owderfiasks and seventy-two stink- 
pots " had been thrown aboard Lcs Dcii.r Amis that 
the enemy was induced to yield.- The Americans had 
thirty-seven men killed or wounded, while the French 
are credited with a loss of eighty. 



rnAPTER IV. 

BEGINNING HOSTILITIES. 

It was-on water — not on land, as has been so gen- 
erally believed — that the first overt act of resistance 
to British anthority in the North American colonies 
was made. It appears that an illicit trade had long 
been carried by the English colonists, and in endeav- 
oring to snpi)ress it the commissioners of cnstoms, 
as early as 1704, had stationed armed vessels along 
the coast from Casco Bay to Cape llenlopen. The 
vessel cruising off Bhode Island in 1764 was the 
^t. John, Lieutenant Hill, which made herself so ob- 
noxious to the colonists that an armed sloop was 
fitted out to destroy her, and was deterred from the 
attempt only by the ari'ival in Newport of the Brit- 
ish man-of-war Stjidi-rc]. The colonists, however, 
ventured so far as to land on Goat Island, seize the 
battery, and oi)en a '* lire of defiance " on the war 
ship. 

In the same year the British frigate Maidsfoiic 
ai»i>eared at Newport, and for several months great- 
ly exasperated the townsfolk by ini])ressing seamen 
from vessels entering the harbor, and in taking men 
from boats and other small craft plying in the bay. 
The ( limax of tln^se outrages was reached when a 
brig from Africa, entering New])ort harbor, was 
sto])p(Ml by the Md'uhsfonc and her entire crew im- 
pressed. That night a crowd of about five hundred 
men and boys seiztMl ouo of the M<ii(lsf()iiv\s boats 
lying at the wharf, and, dragging it through the 

43 



4.4 BP^GINNING HOSTILITIES. 1 769^1 772. 

st reefs l<> the ('oiiniieii, burned it in fi'ont of the 
conrlhcMise amid the (U'risive shouts of the ])eoph'. 
" This affair was so sudcU'ulv concocted and carried 
into effect tliat the anthoi'ities had no time to inter- 
f(M'e.'* ' 

Five years after this occurrence, or in ITGl), the 
commissioners of customs sent Captain Heid to New- 
])ort, in tlie armed sloop lAbrrtji, who exhibited ex- 
traordinary zeal and unncM-essai-y arrogance in car- 
ryint!,' out liis instrm-tions. M'liih' cruisin*;' in Lon,i;- 
Island Sound, July IT, IKJl), Keid seized a brig and 
a sloop belonti'inj;' to Connecticut and broui^ht them 
into Newport. Captain Packwood, of the bricj, liad 
duly reported his cariio, and had conforuKMl to all the 
re(|uirements of law. After waitinii' two days, and 
tiiulini;- that no j)roce(MliniLiS had been instituted 
against him, he went aboard th<^ Lihoii/, and — Cap- 
tain Keid being ashore at the time — some difficulty 
took ])lace between Pack wood and the men in the 
LiJiciiif wlii(di resulted in sev<'ral musket sliots being 
tircMl at Tackwood's l)oat as it was returning shore- 
ward. Exas])(M*ated by this unwari-antable ])roceed- 
ing the ]»eoplc of Ncwpoi't boai'dcd the I/ihcrli/, cut 
her cables, an<l allowcMl her to <lrift ashore near Long 
Wharf. At that ])lace they again boar<hMl her, cut 
away her masts, an<l threw her armanuMit overboard. 
On tlie returning high tide she drifted to (xoat 
Island, ami on the following night a party from New- 
port burned her.- 

In March, 1772, Lieutenant William Dudingston, 
in th(^ armed scdiooner (Id.spr, made his appearance 
in Nari-agansett Ray, and soon proved himself to be 
even more exacting than his predecessors. " He 
sto])ped all vessels, incduding small market boats, 
without showing his authority for doing so; and 
even sent the pro])erty he had illegally seized to 
T^ostou for trial, contrary to an act of Parliament 

' Jolm HussfU Uiirtlett. * For inaii see patre 90. 



1773. UNWARRANTED SEIZURES BY THE GASPE. 4;, 

wliicli required such trials to be held in the colonies 
where the seizures were made.''' ^ Suit was begun 
against Dudingston by the owners of one of these 
cargoes, Jacob Greene & Co., of Warwick, in July, 
1772, which resulted in a judgment against the 
British ottlcer. Comjtlaints of these proceedings 
were duly made, and Joseph Wanton, colonial Gov- 
ernor of I\hode Island, st^nt a number of letters to 
Kear-Admiral John Montagu, at Boston, protesting 
against the outrages, which, however, only elicited 
an arrogant reply from the admiral, who said: '' I 
shall re]>ort your tAvo insolent lettiM'S to my officer 
[Lieutenant Dudingston] to his majesty's secre- 
taries of stat(% and leave to them to determine what 
right you have to demand a sight of all <n'ders I 
shall give to officers of my S(iuadron; and I would 
advise you not to send your sheriff on board the 
king's slii]) again on such ridiculous errands. . . . 
I am also inforuKMl the i>eoplc of New])ort talk of 
fitting out an armed vessel to rescue any vessel the 
king's schooner may take carrying on an illicit 
trade. Let them be cautious what they do, for as 
sure as they attempt it, and any (tf them are taken, 
I will hang them as pirates." Dudingston evidently 
realized that many of his seizures were illegal, for he 
feared to venture ashore, as many suits at law were 
threatened against him by the owners of goods and 
vessels he had taken. The suit brought by Jacob 
(ireene »S: Go. was instituted after Dudingston had 
been taken ashore by the cai)tors of the (Idspr. 

Affairs were in this critical state wIkmi, on June 9, 
1772, the packet Htniudh, Ga])tain Benjamin Lindsey, 
left New]tort for Providence. Soon after meridian 
the (id-spr gave chase and ordered the packet to come 
to. Lindsey refused, and, favored by the wind, led ' 
the scliooner a 2r)-mile race u]) the bay. When 
off " Namquit l*oint, wlii(di runs off from the 



' .Idlin Rus>>cll Bartlett. 



^g BEGINNING HOSTILITIES. 1772. 

farm iu Warwick, about seven miles below Provi- 
dence, now owned by Ur. John Brown Francis, our 
late Governor," ^ the Uauuah stood w^estward, while 
the (Saxp(\ in close i)nrsuit, changed her course and 
or<»und(Hl on the Point. " Lindsey continued on his 
course up the river and arrived at Providence about 
sunset, when he immediately informed Mr. John 
Brown, one of our first and most respectable mer- 
chants, of the situation of the (Ui>^pf. He [Brown] 
immediately con(luded that she would remain im- 
movable until after midniiiht [as the tide was be- 
ginnini^' to ebb], and that now an opportunity offered 
of puttinj;- an end to the trouble and vexation she 
daily caused. ]Mr. Brown immediatcdy resolved on 
her destruction, and he forthwith directed one of his 
trusty shipmast(M-s to ccdlect eiiiiit of the largest 
lon.i;boats in tlu^ harb(»r, with five oars each; to have 
the oars and rowlocks well mufHcd, to prevent noise, 
and to ]dacc them at FcMiucr's \\'harf, directly oppo- 
site the dwcdlini;- of 3Ir. James Sabin, who kept a 
house of board and ent(n'tainment for g-entlemen. 
. . . About the time of shuttinin-up <>f shops, soon 
after sunset, a man pased aloui;' the main street 
beatinj; a drum, and informinm- the inhabitants of 
the fact that the (hispr was ai;round on Namquit 
Point and would not float (df until three o'clock the 
next morniui;, and invitiui; those persons who fcdt 
disposed to ji'o and destroy that tr<niblesome vessel 
to repair in tlu^ eveiiini; to Mv. James Sabin's house. 
About nine o'clock, 1 took my father's jiuu and my 
pow<lerhorn and bullets and went to ]Mr. Sabin's and 
found the southeast room full of peo])le, where I 
loaded my i^un, and all i-emained there till about ten 
o'clock, some castiuL;- bulh^s in the kitchen and 
others makinji,' arrauiii'emeuts for departure, when 
orders were <;iv(Mi to cross the street to Feuner's 

' Account of Coloiu'l E]>liraini Bowcn, llic last survivov of the men 
who nuade the attack on tlie Gaspe, written August 29, 1889, 



1772. 



ATTACK ON THE GASPE. 



Wharf and ODibark, wliicli soon took i)la<-p, and a 
sea captain acted as steersman of ea(di boat." ' 

Abraham AVhippk^ was chosen commander of the 
enterprise, havino- as his lientenant John Enrron^hs 




Captain Abraham Whipple. 

From a painting in possession of the R. I. Historical Society. 



Hopkins, botli of whom afterward became captains 
in the Continental navy. Others known to liave 
taken part in tlie attempt were John Brown, Ben- 



' Account of Epliraiiir Bowon. 



48 BEGINNING HOSTILITIES. 1772. 

jaiiiiii Dnnii, Sjiiiiuel Diniii, J<)S(q)li Biickliii, Dr. John 

^lawiicy, DickeiisoD, Benjainiii Page, Tiir- 

piii Siiiitli, J(>s('])li Tillingliast, and Simeon H. Olney. 
Dr. Mawnev wrote, in 1S2(»: "' I went to Corlis's 
Wiiarf with ('a])tain J(>sei)h Tilliniihast, who coni- 
nianded the bai'i^e, it bi^nii the hist boat that pnt 
off. In i;<>in«i (h)wn we st<>])])ed at Captain Cooke's 
Wharf, wh(M-e we took in staves and pavinm' stones; 
whi( h (h)ne, we folhtwcd onr comnuuKh'r [AMiipple], 
and came u\) witli th(MU a considerable distance 
(h)wn the river." 

AA'lien the ])arty came in si«;ht of tlic (luspv, Whip- 
ph^ formed his boats in a line abreast, taking the 
immediate command on tin' right, while IIo])kins 
had charge of the left. Whi]»])lo arranged his attacdc 
so as to approach directly njx)!! the bow of the (laspr, 
wher(^ she conld not bring a gun to bear. " W<' 
rowed gently along," continues Dr. Mawney, "till 
we got near the S( hooner, wIkmi W(^ were liaihMl from 
on board with the words: 

*' ' Wlio comes t lier<^? ' 

"('aj»tain \\'hi])]»l(^ r(^]»li(Ml: 

" ' 1 want to come ou board.' 

" The reply was: 

" ' Stand off! Vou can't come on board.' 

''On whicdi AA'hipj)le roared out: 

" ' I am the sheriff of the Tonnty of Kent; I am 
come for the commander <»f this vess(d, and I will 
have liim, dead or alive. .Alen, spring to your oars! ' " 

Accoi-ding to otliei- reliable accounts Whipple, in 
this brief ]»ar]ev, em])liasiz<'(l his words with a re- 
luarkable amount of i-eal sailordike profanity, possi- 
bly with a view of concealing his identity. By this 
time Dudingston had a])i)eared on de<ds: in his shirt 
sleeves and ordered the boats to ke(^}> away, and on 
their ]»ersistent ai»]»roa(li discdiarged his pistol, 
while seveial of his meu also tired. Tolonel Bowen 
says: " I took uiy seat on the main thwart, near the 
larl)oard |]»or1] roAvbxd-;, with my gun by my right 





s^ 



1772. DUDINGSTON WOUNDED. 40 

side, faciiijj; forward. As soon as Dndiiiiistoii hoiiaii 
to hail, Jose])h l^iicdcliii, wlio was staiKliiiii' <»ii the 
main thwart, by my ri^lit sid(\ said to iik^: ' E])hp, 
reacdi me A'oiir i;iin and I can kill that foHow.' I 
reached it to liini accordiniily, Avlien, dnrinj^ Captain 
Whii>])h^'s rei)lyiu<;', Bn(lclin fire<l and Dndin^ston 
fell, and Rncdvlin excdaimed: 'I hav(^ killed the 
rascal!' [The ball shattered tlu^ lieutenant's arm 
and lodged in his j^roin.] In less than a minnte 
after ('a])tain Whii>])le's reply the boats were alon<>- 
side the (Idspr and [we] boarded without ojtposi- 
tion. The men on (bndv retreated below as Diiding- 
ston entered the cabin." 

Dr. Mawney thus describes the boarding' of the 
(Saspv: *' We were in an instant under her bows. I 
was then sittinji with Captain Tillini^liast in the 
stern of the bari>e and sprani;' immediately forward, 
and seeiui; a rope han<i- down her bows seized it to 
hel}) myself in. The rope slipping-, I fell almost to 
my waist in the water, but bein<;' nimble and active I 
recovered, and was the first of our crew on deck, 
when Simeon II. Olney handed me a stave, with 
which, seeini;' one [man] that I to<d; to be of the 
ci'(*w of the S( hooner floun<l(^rini;' bidow the wind- 
lass, I was in the attitud(^ of a levelinii' stroke, when 
he cried out: 'John, don't strik(^I ' R(un<2,- vcnw in- 
timately aiMjuainted with Captain Sannud Dunn, I 
knew his voice, left him, and sju-auii ba( k of the 
^^■iudlass, A\here tlierc^ ^^■as commotion and noise, 
but whi(di soon subsided. The crew jumi>inii down 
the hold, 1 imm«Mliately followcMl, when I ordere<l 
them to brin_ii- cords to tie tlKUi- hands with, and 
told them they should not be hurt, but b(^ sent on 
shore. They bronnht sonu^ tarred striuiis, with 
which I lied the hands of two, when -Fohn l^rown, 
10s(|., called to me, saying- I was wanted immedi- 
ately on deck, where I was instantly h<d])ed. AVhen 
I asked Mr. l>rown what the nmtter was 1h^ re- 
]>lie(i. 'I)(»n't call names, but i;o immediately into 



5Q BEGINNING HOSTILITIES. 1772-177:5. 

the cabin; there is one wounih^d and will bleed to 
death.' 1 hastened into the cabin and found Lien- 
tenant Dndin-ston in a sitting- posture, gently re- 
clinini;- to the left, bleeding profusely, with a thin 
white woolen blanket loose about him, which I threw 
aside, and discovered the effect of a musket ball in 
his left groin. Thinking the femoral artery was 
cut, 1 throw open my waistcoat, and taking my shirt 
by the collar tore it to my waistband. ^Ir. Duding- 
ston said: 'Pray, sir, don't tear your (dothes; there 
is linen in that trunk.' Upon wlii(di I re<iuested 
Josei)h I>ucklin to break o])en the trunk and tear 
the linen and scra])e lint, whi( h he immediately at- 
tempted, but, finding the linen new and strong, could 
not make lint." l>iscovering that dawn was rapidly 
ai)roacliing Dr. Mawnoy tore the linen into strips, 
and, bandaging Dudingstini as well as he could, 
placed him in one ()f the boats where the other pris- 
oners had bc(Mi collcct<Ml. After setting tire to the 
(hispr so that she burned to the water's e<lge and 
blew u]), the boats returned to Providence, landing 
the prisoners at Pawtuxet. 

This affair caused great excitement, the British 
(lOVfM'nment offering a reward of one thousand 
pounds for the ai»])rehensioii of the leader of the at- 
tack and five hun<lred pounds for any of the partici- 
pants, at the same time promising ])ardon to any one 
who would make disclosures. No one was found 
willing to give the desired information, although a 
s])(M'ial commission sat for this ])ur])ose from January 
to June, 177P>. All those taking part in the afi'air were 
nior(' or loss disgnist'd at tlu^ time. 

This s]»irited atta<'k was follow(Hl, in June, 1773, by 
the famous '* Poston Tea l*art v." This was somewhat 
in the nature of a private maritime enterprise. One 
of the nieasures adoi)ted by England to coerce the 
colonists was to jdace a heavy tax on tea. The latter 
eva(hMl it by agreiMug not to im]>ort or use the article, 
the result being that the nuTchandise soon accumu- 



THE WAR ON TEA. 



51 



lated ill the warelioiises of the East India Company. 
At Charleston the people caused the tea to be stored 
in damp cellars, where it si)oiled, while the Xew York- 




Tlie •' Boston Tea Tarty." 
From ail old print. 

ers and Philadel]>liians com]>ell(Ml some ships to re- 
turn without unloadinii,-. 

Three rar;Li<>es arrivcMl at Boston which the people 
endeavored also to send ba<"k, but the Crown oflicials 
refused to i;ive the necessary clearances. Determined 
to ]»revent the landiu^j,- of the oftensivc^ arti(d(\ a num- 
b(M' of the inhabitants, disiiuised as Indians, on the 
nijLiht of December 17, ITT.'*, suddcudy ajtpeared on 
the wharf, took ]»ossessi(»n of the ships, and, openina,' 
the hatches, broke o])en the chests and poured the 
tea into the bay. Thr<H' hundrcMl and fort^^-two chests 
of tea W(^re destroyed in this wav. 



52 



BEGINNING HOSTILITIES. 



1775. 



The lirsl sea tii;ht after the battle of Huuker Hill 
Avas that between the eai)tiire(l schooiu'i' I'liHil and 
th(^ British armed entter Manjarvlta, Lieutenant 
Moore. The rapid concentration of trooi)S in lioston 
niad<' it necessary for the enemy to ])rovi<le addi- 
tional barracks, and for the i)nri)ose of secnrin- lum- 
ber for those buildinj;s the British ordenMl t\v(» small 
vessels, about eiiihty tons eacdi, belon.uini;- to Ichabod 
Jones, of P.oston, under the convoy of the Muniarvita, 
to Machias,' "the extreme easterly outpost of the 




■h -,^4^^--^-.^k^*'^-^*^ 



^««WJ5?^gS^^ 



IJirlliphiL'e of Colonel Jereniiiili O'Hrien, near Macliias, Maine. 
From ;i photoLtraph. 

colouists; and boiuu,' the only jxtint in all the region 
beyond the Penobscot, and between it and the St. 
Croix, at which any considerable number of white 
men have f(»und lodi;'ment, in a region whi(di had 
lately become safe from aboriiiinal and Frencdi in- 
cursions, they were in many respects seemingly un- 



' Acciinlinn- to I III' accoiiiit <if .Tolm O'Brien, one of Mie participants, 
the luinlicr wanted was " ])ick('ts and plaid<s, to be used by the Englisli in 
the defrnsc ol' IJosttni."' 



1775. ARRIVAL OP THE MARGARBTTA AT MACIIIAS. 5:3 

recoj»iiize(l, and {ii»]»ai'('iitly almost without the i)ah' 
of colonial jurisdiction." ^ 

The M(ir</(init(i, with her convoy, arrived at the 
mouth of the Machias Kiver June 2, 1775, and on June 
3d Lieutenant Moore circulated a ])aper amon<i' the in- 
habitants for signatures " as a prequisite to tlieii* 
obtainin*;- supjdies of any i>rovisions," " of which the 
people were in <;reat need. According- to the t(M-ms of 
this paper, or contract, the inhabitants were to " in- 
dnl<;e Captain Jones in carryinj;- lumber to Boston, 
and to protect him and his property at all events." 
On June (>th the peoi>l(^ held a meetini; and decided 
not to «;rant his recpiest for lumber, ui)on which Jones 
reported the matter to ^Ioor(% who caused the slooj) 
and tln^ Marf/nrdtd to anchor near the village, where 
his i;uns would command the houses. This had the 
effect of cliani;ini;- the attitude^ of the inhabitants, to 
the extent that a majority voted to allow Jones to j^-et 
the lumber and to permit the citizens individually 
to i)urcliase i)rovisions. But there were many who 
vote<l ai^ainst this resolution. 

Ui)on learuinj;' of this decision Jones broui;ht his 
lumber vessels up to the wharf and distributed the 
provisions only amonji,' those who had voted in his 
favor. This oave offense to those who were denied 
provisions, and they determined to seize Jones and 
put a stop to his mission of securinj:,' lumber."' \'a^ue 
rumors of the tii^ht at Lexinofou had reached this out- 
post of civilization, and the arrival (tf these vessels 
in (]uest of this ])articular kind of lumber confirmed 
the news in the minds of the townsfolk. But Lieu- 
tenant Moore, under tlie impression that these people 
were iiiuorant of that occurrence, was careful to con- 



' (I. W. Balch. " Official rei)ort of tlie :\rarliias Conuiiittcc of Safety. 

^ Nearly all the popular accoimts of Ww ^[(irgarefta fii^lit have oiiiilteil 
these important preliminary details, leaving,'- it to he iiifci'rcd that the 
Crown vessels, with their convoy, arrived at ^laehias June 10) ii or lltli. 
The above account is taken fi'oin the official rejjoi't of tlie ]\Iaehias CoU!- 
niittee of Safety. 



54 



BEGINNING HOSTILITIES. 



1775. 



foal all iiii'onnatioii on the siibjtH't. Soon after his 
arrival he assumed an arrogant tone, and took excep- 
tion to the liberty i)ole whicdi the inhabitants had 
erected on the villai;e oreen. '' lie said it must be 
taken d(»wn or the town would be tired upon. A Mr. 
St(^])lien Jones was present, and, owninii' a store in 
.Machias, had considerable wei.glit with the people. 




O'Brien's 15rouk, near Macliias, ]Muine, where I he patriots heUl 

their seeret meetings. 

From a iJhotogniiJh. 

He advised Moore to sus])end his (h'terniination until 
the ]>e()]>le cotdd assemble a town meetini;'; pcn-haps 
the town would ai;ree to take down the liberty pole. 
The town met, as was proi)osed, and voted not to take 
it down. Mr. Jones, who was in considerable favor 
with the English commander, ])ersuaded liim to defer 
execution of his threat until a second town meeting; 
could be calh^d, it being stated that the first was not 
fully attended."* ' 

Anticii>ating that there would be trouble over the 
liberty i>ol<' the inhabitants of Machias secretly sent 
word to Pleasant Kiver village, about twenty miles 
distant, and to a few other settlements within reach, 
askinu' for reenforcements. Before this aid could 



' Aeeimnt nf .Tolm O'lirien. one of tlie partii'ipants in the affair. 



1775. PREPARING TO ATTACK. 55 

come the people had hehl another meeting — a secret 
one — on Sunday, June 11th, in tlie woods at the back 
of the settlement, at which the project of capturing 
tlie Crown boat and her convoy was discussed. After 
some talk Benjamin Foster, of East Falls, Machias — 
Pizarro-like — st(^i)ped across a brook near by and 
called upon all, who would take part in an attempt, 
to follow him. He was ])romptly supported by the 
sturdy men at the gathering, and Foster was dele- 
gated to proceed to East Machias to secure a 
schooner lying there, which was well adajtted for the 
undertaking. 

IMeantime Moore and Ichabod Jones, with several 
of their men, ignorant of the fact that a secret meeting 
was being held, had attended religious service in the 
meetinghouse. Some of the villagers, in anticipation 
of trouble, carried their guns to church, but took care 
to keep them out of sight, John O'Brien concealing 
his under a board. He observed Moore when the 
latter entered the edifice, and took a seat directly be- 
hind the British officer. In the (Muirse of the service 
]\Ioore happened to look out of the open window, and 
he saw up the river, at a distance of about half a mile, 
a number of men crossing the stream on logs, holding 
guns in their hands. ^ These were the reenforcements 
coming from IMeasaut Biver village. The English 
commander at once surmised their object and realized 
the peril of his situation. At that time the meeting- 
house was unfinished and there were no pews, the con- 
gregation using temporary benches.- Making his 
way over these seats ^[oore reached a window, juni])ed 
out, and managed to make his way to his vessel, tluMi 
anchored at White's Point. Ichabod Jones to(dv to 
the woods, where he secreted himself several days. 
Stei)lien Jones, who also was at the meeting, was 
taken prisoner and h<'ld under guard. 



' Account of John O'Brien, one of the participants. 
- Collections nf tlie ^faine lilstoi-ical Society. 



56 BEGINNING HOSTILITIES. 1775. 

Tlie t('iii]»('r of these Elaine people is foiichinglj 
shown h\ an incident that occnrred th(^ followiucj day. 
The men who came from Pleasant Iviver were short 
of powder, having- only two or three ciiar<;es each. 
It ai)i>ears that one of them, J(>siah ^^'eston, of Jones- 
boro, forgot his ]M)wderhorn. Ills wife Hannah, after 
his depai-tnre, noticed the oyersi<j:lit, and, following;' the 
trail throni^h the woods, reached .Machias on the next 
day with the i»recions articde. In this phndvy tramp 
thronjih the woods, Mrs. Weston was accompanied 
by her hnsband's sister, ^liss IJebecca Weston, a frail 
•iirl fifteen years old. INFrs. Weston herself was in her 
seventeenth year and had been married five months. 
The i)Owder, which was carried in a baji', weij;hed 
forty ]K)nnds. " There were no roads or bridj;es, and 
the two uirls followed sj)ots on trees, coming out on 
Machias Kiver, where Whitneyville noAV is, and fol- 
lowed the v'wd' to ^laidiias." ^ 

After sendiiiii word to the inhabitants that he 
wonld burn the town if they persisted in their hostile 
demonstrations, ^loore dropped the Marf/aretfa be- 
low the Narrows. Xotwithstandiuii' his threat the 
Americans seized the sloo]> ('iiifn, and forty of the 
men of Machias went aboard her, while another party 
took the second sloo]) an<l brou}.>ht her up to the 
wharf. " On examining' their e(]nipments of warfare, 
only twenty i^uns could be ])roduced, many of which 
were meri^ fowlinii' ])ieces, cai'i-ying scatter shot, and 
of ])owder, ball, and shot thei'e were no more than 
three rounds to each firearm. The remainini;- W(M])ons 
consist(^d of thirteen ]>itch forks, a few scythes, and 
ten or tAvcdve axes."- The M(ir<j(tnil(t A\as arnn^d 
with four :>-])ounders and fonrtecui swiv<ds. Only two 
of the Machias men had ever seen military service; 
they were Moi-ris 0'I>rien and Bf^njamin Foster, both 
of whom had served in the expedition against Louis- 



' Collc'i-lioiis of the Mivhw Tlisturical Sdciety. 
'-' (i. W. l>alch, a desc-emlaiit of Morris O'lJrien. 



1775. ATTACK ON THE MARGARETTA. 5Y 

burg. Morris was now incapacitated by extreme 
age. Jeremiah O'Brien, then tliirty-one years old, 
a son of Morris O'Brien, was cliosen commander 
of the Unit I/, and Edmund Stevens was made his 
lieutenant. 

Wliile this had been going on a number of the in- 
habitants had gathered on the highhmd overloolving 
the Ma ]•(/(( niter 8 refuge ncnir tlie Narrows, and threat- 
ened to attaclv if slie did not surrender. Beceiving 
for answer " fire and be damned," they opened lire, 
which ^Foore returned, but liiuling himself at a disad- 
vantage again got und^r way, and, running into a bay, 
anchored n(^ar the continence of two streams. Here 
he lashed tlu^ Mtirijiirvttd alongside a small sloop com- 
manded by a Mr. Toby, whom Mo(n-e compelled to 
come aboard the Crown cutter and act as pilot. 

It was not until ^londay morning, June 12tli, that 
the patriots were rea<ly to make sail in ])ursuit, when 
the Uiiiti/, followed by the second lumber craft hav- 
ing twenty nuui under tlu^ command of Benjamin Fos- 
ter aboard, got under way. Obsei-ving the ap])roach 
of the Americans, JNFoore again weighed anchcu' and 
maneuvered so as to avoid a collision. In this effort 
his vessel lost hei- boom and gaff, whereupon he ran 
into Holmes Bay, and, taking a spar and all the pro- 
visions, together with Kobert Avery, of Norwich, Con- 
necticut, out of a craft he met coming in fr<un the 
Bay of Fundy, repaired his injury. 

While this work was going on the Americans 
again drew near, and to avoid them ^Moore stood out 
to sea. '' During the chase our people built their 
breastworks [bulwarks] of pine boards, and any- 
thing they could tind in the vessels that would screen 
them from the enemy's fire." ^ L^inding that the 
Americans were not only following him, but were 
rapidl}' gaining, Lieutenant Moore cut away his 



1 Letter of Maehias Committee of Safety to tlie " Honorable Congress 
of Massachusetts Bav," June 14, 1775. 



58 BEGINNING HOSTILITIES. 1775. 

boats, and as this did not enable him to liohl his dis- 
tance he, when "■ at the entrance of onr harbor," ^ 
bei;an tiriiiii-, one of his shots killing an American. 
This hre was answered b,y one of the volunteers 
nanuHl Knight, who discharged his " wall piece " 
— a mnsket too lieav.yto fire offhand, needing the 
support (►f a '' wall," but in this instance prob- 
ably the "breastwork" or bulwark — killing the 
English lielmsman, an impressed seaman, and clear- 
ing the poop of men. The two craft quickly came 
together, when a sharp fire of small arms was 
opened. 3Ioore made a gallant defense, throwing 
personally a number of hand grenades and with 
great effect, until ho was shot through the breast 
with a brace of musket balls. The unfortunate Mr. 
AY(n'y also was killed. A British midshipman named 
Stillingheet became terrified and secreted himself 
below. 

The Anu'ricans now boarded and soon obtained 
possession of the cutter, the action having lasted " for 
near the si)ace of an liour." The first man to board 
w'as John O'Brien, brother of Jeremiah, and the sec- 
ond was Jose])h (letcliell. On the i>art of the Ameri- 
cans one was kilhMl and six were wounded,- one of 
the lattei' afterward <lying. The enemy had four men 
killed and about ten wounded,'^ one mortally, her 
commander, who died in the village the next day. 
For this brilliant affair the Colonial Council, then in 
session at Cambridge, tender<Ml Jeremiah O'Brien a 
vote of thanks and gave him the custody of his prizes. 
The M(inntntt<( was brought back to port and her 
armament was transferred to the Viiitf/. " We pur- 
pose," wrote the ^Nlachias Committee of Safety, "to 
convey the jnisoners to Pownalborough Gaol as soon 
as possible." 



' "Massaclmsetts Archives. 

' Oiricial ro]iort of the Miwliias Cominittce of Safety. 
^ Tjottcr of Joseph A,Vheatoii to John O'Brien. Wheaton was one of 
t-lie Americans jjarticijiating. 



1775. BATTLE IN TflE BAY OF FUNDY. 59 

There lias Ixm^ii eoiifusioii in some accounts of this 
affair as to Avhich O'Brien coiiiinaiuled the I'liiti/. In- 
qiiirinii' of Miss Aiiiietta ()"]>i-i(ni ^^'alker, a (h^seend- 
ant of .Morris O'Brien, the anthoi* learns that it nn- 
qnestional)ly was JcnMuiah who had the honor. The 
confusion vei y naturally aris(^s fi-oni the fact that 
there were six ()']>riens in the ti,ulit, throe of them 
havino- tlio h^tcr "J " as their initial. As many of 
the early records liivc only the hrst letter, "J," to 
the commander, douht easily arose as to which 
O'BricMi was int<'nd(Ml. The six brothers were Jere- 
miah, (iide(»n, 4osei»h, Dennis, John, and William. 
Their father, Morris, came from Dublin, Ireland, in 
1740, and settled in Scarborit',^ then in Massachu- 
setts. Alxtut 17(»0 the family moved to .Machias on 
account of the facilities there offei-ed in the lumber 
business.- They built and owned sawmills. The 
gunboat Macliids, of our present navy, was muned for 
the town wlxnx' the tiiiht tocdv ])lac(\ 

The news of this h^ht greatly enraged lii-itish 
navy officials, and about a month lat(M- tlnw sent two 
aruH'd sloo]»s, the J)Hi</ciic(' and the ThixiikuiokcIiv, or 
TdpiKK/HisJi, from Halifax to punish 1 he audacious 
Yankees. These sloo])s carried eight guns and fifty 
men for the hrst and sixteen swivels for the las*t. 
Hearing of their a]>]»roa(di, O'l'rien sailed from ^la- 
chias with llie I iiifi/ and the coasting vessel Porfhnid 
Paclcl, commanded l)y lienjamin h^>ster, to anticii)ate 
them. They luet July 12, 1775, in the Bay of Fundy, 
and by attacking them se])arately the Americans took 
both and brought tlicMU in trium]di to Watertown. 
For this truly bi-illiant affair O'Brien was nuuh^ a 
cai»tain in the Massa(diusetts State marine, and with 
his last two i>riz(^s, whi(di he nauHnl Mdchhis Llhcri}! 
and J)'i!)(i(iic<\ he went out to cruise after I>ritish 
trans]»orts, O'lirieii commanding the M<ichUis l/ilioi'i 



' Maine Historical Society collections. 
» Aunctlii O'r.rieii Walker to the author. 



(^o 



BEGINNING HOSTILITIES. 



1 / (ij-1 t t I, 



and a Mr. Lainb('rt the DUhjcuce. Under their new 
commanders these vessels were liiii'hly suecessfnl. On 
Aujiust 9, 1775, they reeai)tnred a sehooner that had 
fallen into the hands of the enemy, and also a cntter 
and two barges, with thirty-live men, nnder the com- 
mand of a lieutenant of the I>ritish slooj) of war 
FdJvoii, that were o])eratin^- in (Jloucester Bay. In 
this captni'e the Americans had one man killed and 
two w(»unded. 

Tliese maritime successes so exasperated Admiral 
(Iraves, then commander on the Korth American 

station, that he sent out a 
squadron of four war ves- 
S(ds uudcM' Captain Mowatt 
to " overawe " the coh)uists. 
Mowatt destroycMl the town 
of r^almouth, Maine (now 
Pot'tland), in OctobtM', com- 
jxdliui;- many women and 
"jv^ children t(» seek cover in 
hastily constructiMl huts at 
the b(\i;innin_<;' of the severe 
northei-n winter. Amono- 
these <hildr(Mi was Edward 
Pr(d)le, then only fourteen 
yeai-s old. Later in life he b<'came famous as a cap- 
tain in our navy. The MacJiuts Lihcrtif and Dilif/ciicr 
continued to cruise off the New Eni;land coast for 
a year an<l a half, when they were laid up. Captain 
()"l>i'ieu afterward entered the privateer service, 
commanding- the armed ships L'lfflc y'lnceuf, Cyrus, 
and 'rUjcr, of X(^w IIam]>shire. Late in September, 
1777, he ca]>tured olT ('a])e N(\u,ro a vessel from Ire- 
land laden with ])ork for the Jii'itish army. This 
craft had been taken by an American jn-ivateer, was 
recajdured by the l>i-itish cruiser Scdrltorfnn/Ji, and 
was aii,ain seized by Captain O'Brien.^ 




^ c^-ud/rd tx^^^i^^^ 



' Kidder's Eastorn Maine. 



1780. O'BRIEN'S ESCAPE PROM MILL PRISON. • 01 

Later in the war Jeremiah, ^Yith his brother Jolin 
and several others, built at Newburyi)ort a shi)) 
called the ffdiniilxil, carryino- twenty ^nns and a com- 
plement of one hundred and thirty men. On her first 
cruise, to I*ort an Prince, slie was commanded by 
John O'Brien. li(^turnin«»- from this voyai^e with sev- 
eral i)rizes, the Uitniilhal was under the command of 
Jeremiah O'Brien. Meeting' with varied succ(^ss in a 
cruise of considerable lenjith the UmniUxiJ, in 1780, 
was cai)tured, aft(^r a chase of forty-eiii'ht hours, by 
two British fri<j,ates which wer(^ escortinii' a fleet of 
merchnntmcMi in the vicinity of New York. Captain 
O'Brien and his men were taken into that port and 
were conhned in the ill-famed ]>risou ship Jcr.siif, 
where they wcrc^ subjected to lin^at hardsliip. After 
six months of im])risonment tlie lldinillxiVs crew was 
exchanged, with tlie <'xc(q»tion of ('a]»tain O'Brien, 
who it seems, by or<lers fi-om England, was reserved 
for the s])(H-ial malice of the liritisli (lovernment. 
He was transp<trt(Hl to En|i;land and thrown into 
Mill Prison, and made the obj<M-t of personal ill treat- 
ment. 

Notwithstandinji' the careful watch kept on him, 
O'Brien manai:,ed to effect his esca])e. The story of 
this exploit, as told by his brother John, is as fol- 
lows: " Il«' i)urposely neglected his dress and whole 
personal a])pearance foi- a month. The afternoon be- 
fore making' his (^sca])e he sliaved and dressed in 
decent (dothes, so as to alter v(n'y mu(di his pcn'sonal 
appearance, and walked out Avith the other prisoners 
in the jail yard. Ilavinjn' secreted himself under a 
platform in the yard, and thus escapin<>- the notice of 
the kee])ers at the eveninjn' round-up, In^ was left out 
of the ((dls after they were locked for tlie niiiht. He 
(^seajted fi-om the yard l)y ]tassin_<i- through the prin- 
cipal keei)er's lious(^ in the dusk of the evening-. Al- 
though he made a little stay in the barroom of the 
house, he was not detected, beinm' taken for a British 
soldier. In com]»any with a (\''a])tain Lyon and an- 



(;2 BEGINNING HOSTILITIES. 1779-177(3. 

otlu'i' Aiuoricaii wlio also liad cscajted from the prison 
and \\(n-(' coiiccahMl somewhere in the vicinity, he 
crossed the Kn^lisli (Miannel to France in a boat and 
theuee came to America," jnst abont tlie time hostili- 
ties ceased. ]Ie lived to see the second war with 
Great Britain, bnt at that time was too old to become 
an active ]»articii»ant. One of onr ninv torpe(ht boats 
is named (fllrU'ii in honor of Jeremiah O'lirien. 

While his brotluM' was confined in l>i'itish i)risons, 
John O'Brien had pnrchased the fast-sailin;L;' brii;- 
Hihcniid, caiTvini; six 3-i)onnders and sixty men. lie 
sailed from Xewbnry]>ort in this vessel June 1), 1779, 
and on the 21st ca]>tured an Eni^lish briii and sent 
her into port. Abont noon, Jnne 2r)th, ('ai»tain John 
O'Brien <liscovered a lariic^ slii]), and i-a]»idly comin_«i' 
U]) with her o]>ened tire about threes o'clock in the 
afternoon. Tlie stranii;er was the British cruiser 
(Uiimd Pdtiisoii, Lieut(Miant (Mii(Mie, from New York 
for Eniiland, carryini;-, besides her regular comple- 
ment, a numlter of British oflicers homeward bound. 
She was armed with 0- and 0-pounders. After a de- 
sultory cannonading, lastinii,' from tliree to tivc^ o'clock 
in the afternoon, ('a]»tain O'BritMi drew off, feeling 
satisfied tliat the (Miemy was too strong- to b(^ taken. 
In this affaii- the Americans had three men killed and 
several wounded,' the loss of the (Miemy beinj:,' un- 
known. 

Scai'cely had the 1/ iJxriiid hauh^l off from the 
(iciicral rdfli.sdii when a British frii^ate hovc^ in siulit 
and i;ave the Americans a hard chase until midnii2,ht, 
when she (h'sisted. Continuinu' her cruise, the ///- 
hrniid, on July 7th, took a schooner wliicli was sent 
into Newbury]>ort. Three days later she fell in with 
the 12-!j,iin ]n'ivateer I'dlli/, of Salem, Massac husetts, 
('a]>tain J. Leach. Leach was a successful i»i'ivateers- 
man thi-oumhout th<^ war. In Se])t(^mber, 177(>, while 
in command of the jtrivate armed schooner Dolphin, 



' Tjo"' of till' Ilibernia. 



1775-1783. A DARING ATTEMPT ON A FLEET. C3 

carrying only eight swivels and twenty-five men, he 
eaptnred the brig Roi/dl (h'onje, with a cargo of pro- 
visions, and also a sloop laden with fish. Before 
Leach got the Dolphin she was coniinande<l by Cap- 
tain Daniel Waters. In September, 1778, Leach was 
captain of the 6-gnn sloop Happn Rvtuni. That ves- 
sel captnred one brig and two sloops laden with fustic 
and rum. 

At the time Captain Leach fell in with the 
Hihvniia, July 10, 1779, he was in command of the 
fine 12-gun sloop Po//.y, carrying, besides her main 
guns, eight swivels and one hundred men. The PoUi/ 
had been hanging on the outskirts of a fleet of mer- 
chantmen, and shortly after the two privateers came 
together the fleet hove in siglit, convoyed by a small 
cruiser. The American privateers, after some adroit 
maneuvering, captured a ship carrying thirteen 1- 
pounders, a brig, and a schooner laden with nndasses. 
On the following day the I/ilH'niia took a hermaphro- 
dite brig in ballast, and being incumbered with 
prisoners Captain John O'Brien jflaced tln^m aboard 
her, with i)erinission to make their most convenient 
port. On the same day, July 11th, he gave cliase to 
another brig and captured her. " Had not Cai)tain 
Leach been parted from me in the fog we could have 
taken the whole fleet." ^ The Ulhcniui tln^i returned 
to port with h(^r rich prizes. The PoIJi/, in the follow- 
ing month, took a brig laden with tobacco. In 1782 
Cai>taiii Leach commanded the privateer aS7. Marifs, 
a brig of one hundred and twenty-eight men. 

A number of spirited affairs like that of the M<ir- 
f/an'tta took plac(^ at the outbreak of the Ivevolution, 
the result of ju-ivate enterprise. From an English 
source we get the following account of an audacious 
attack on British transports by an AuKM-ican priva- 
teer: ''On the 23d of November, 1775, a small fleet 
of traiisi)orts under the convoy of the frigate Tartar 

' Journal of Captain John O'Brien. 



64 BEGINNING HOSTILITIES. 1775-1776. 

arrived off Boston, and, with the exception of two, 
safely entered the port. The ship Hunter and a brig, 
owing to a shift in the wind, were obliged to anchor 
outside the harbor, which, being observi^d by two 
American privateers that had been following the con- 
voy, they, in the most daring manner, attacked and 
boarde<l them, setting them on tire. A signal was 
immediately made for the Rairii to weigh anchor 
and go in chase, but Lienteiiant John Bonrmaster, 
wlio had Ihmmi a]>pointed to protect Boston Light- 
honse, then under repair, and who was in command 
of an armed transport, on observing the privateers 
tire upon tlie I/iinlcr, set sail and reached the trans- 
ports in time to save them from destruction." 

In A])ril, 1775, several \vhal(4)oats under the com- 
mand of one N. Smith captured the British schooner 
Vohnifc in Martha's Mneyard. The Vohiiifc was a 
tender to the I^ritish frigate Snirhoroiu/h^om' of whose 
})rizes, as we have just seen, was captured by Cap- 
tain Jeremiah O'Brien. Tn I)(M'cmb(n' of the same 
year four boats und(M: tlie command of James Bar- 
ron, afterward a ca]»tain in the navy, ca])tured a Brit- 
ish tender in (Miesaitcake Bay. A whaleboat carry- 
ing three swivels and twiMity-two nnui, under the com- 
mand of one B. Bormer, in the same year seized an 
English sloo]) mounting six guns, and afterward re- 
captured two i)rizes off Ocracoke Inlet, North Caro- 
lina. 

From November 13, 1775, to the evacuation of 
Boston by the British, ]March 17, 1770, thirty-one Eng- 
lish vessels, while endeavoring to gain port, were cap- 
tured by the vigilant Americans. In this i)eriod there 
were only a few State cruisers in commission off' 
Boston, so that a good share of these captures must 
be cre(lit<Ml to ]>rivate enter]U'ise. (Jeneral Washing- 
ton, on his own responsibility, borrowed two vesscds 
from Massachusetts and sent them into tlu^ (Julf of 
St. Lawrence to intercejit military supplies consigned 
to the enemy. These mmm'c the schooners TjI/iicJi and 



1775-1776. WASHINGTON SENDS OUT CRUISERS. 65 

Franklin, the first caiTving six guus, ten swivels, and 
seventy men, under the command of Captain Nicholas 
Broughton; and the secon<l carrying fonr guns, ten 
swivels, and sixty men, commanded by Captain John 
Selman. AMien tirst commissioned the Li/ncJi v^'na 
commanded by Captain John Ayres, her first and sec- 
(»nd otiicei-s being John Koche and John Tiley. From 
the cii'cnmstance of all her officers bearing the same 
first name, this craft was jokingly dnbbed The Three 
Jolin.s. Ayres soon was succeeded by J(din Selman 
as commander, so that the nickname of the boat was 
in no way disturbed. 

The Ljiiivh and Frdiikliii were highly successful, 
notwitlistanding the fact that their commanders 
missed their way to the St. Lawrence and brought 
up in the Bay of Fundy. In the fall of 1775 they made 
ten i)rizes and captun^l (rovernor Wright, of St. 
John's. '" All of the vessels were released, however,'' 
wrote Elbridge (Jerry to John Adams, "as we had 
waged a ministerial war, and not one against our most 
gracious Sovereign." In the spring of 1770 the Fraiik- 
li)i, then commanded by Captain James ^Nlugford, cap- 
tured the ship Hope and brought her safely into port. 
She was laden with fifteen hundred barrels of gun- 
powder, a large (piantity of intrenching tools, gun 
carriages, and othei' stores which were intended for 
the British army, all of wliiili were duly forwarded 
to the troops under A\'ashington — a sufficient com- 
mentary (Ui his wisdom in sending such craft to sea. 

The American cominander in chi<^f also sent out 
the little cruisers La' and Il<i)-ri.s<)it, issuing their com- 
missions witli his own hand. The Lee was commanded 
by Ca]»lain Daniel Waters, her first and s(M'ond offi- 
cers being Kichard Stih^s and Nicholas Ogilby; while 
the lliirrlxnii was und(M' the orders of Cai>fain Charles. 
Dyar, her tirsi and siM-oml officers being Thomas Dote 
and Joim A\'iggleswort h. The />rc l)elonge<l to the 
State of Massachusetts, and while undei- the com- 
mand of Captain John Manly made one of the most ' 



0(5 BEGINNING HOSTILITIES. 1775-1776. 

iinixutaiit captures of the war. On November 29, 
1775, slie eiitei-ed Cape Ami Koads with lier prize, the 
Xiiiiri/, the latter beiiii; huleii with two thousaud luiis- 
kets and bayonets, eii^lit tliousaud fuses, thirty-one 
tons of musket shots, three thousand rounds of shot 
for 12-pounders, a 1.3-inch mortar, two (j-ponnders, 
several barrels of powder, and fifty " carcasses," or 
great frames for combustibles, designed for the pur- 
pose of setting buildings on fire. 

On December Sth this cruiser captnred three ves- 
sels: tiie '/ (11 II If, carrying two guns, a crew of twenty 
men, and a cargo of provisions; the Concord, with a 
cargo of dry goods, and the Haiuiali, a brig, with a 
cargo of ruiu. Tliese vessels were not taken without 
a fierce sti'uggle with a fourth, the convoying ship, 
which, though mounting eight guns, was finally 
beaten off. The ]>rizes were brought into ])ort, and 
the I/dinidirs cargo alone netted twenty-five thousand 
dollars to her caidors. On the same day the Hdrnxon 
captunMl the scliooner I iidusirii ami the sloo]) PoIIi/. 
Soon after tliis lucky stroke she was chased into 
(Uoucester by the l)ritish cruiser Falcon. By running 
close inshore the />rc infiicted considerable injury on 
her ]»ursuer and escaped. This is the second unlucky 
exjx'ricm-e we hav(^ not(Ml the Fiilcoii as having with 
Americans, for in this same bay the FuJcon's boats 
were re])uls('d in an attemi)t to take one of Captain 
.T(M'emiali O'l'ricn's ])rizes. l^'or tln^se valuable serv- 
ices Maidy rcccivcMJ a commission, A])ril 17, 1776, as 
ca]»tain in the Continental navy, and the command 
of the .*>2-gun frigate llniicocl: was given to him.^ 

On tlic retirement of .Manly from the command of 
th<^ Lcr, Ca])tain Waters, as has been noted, assumed 
charge of tliat cruiser. Eai-ly on th(^ morning of June 
17, 177(>, the Lt<\ in com]tany with thi'ee small priva- 
teers out of New England ports, fell in with two 

' I'^ir ^Iniily's stil)stM|Ufnt, brilli;iiit c-ureer in tliis war see Chapter XV, 
" Cui>t;iiii .lolin Manly." 



1770. CAPTURING A THIRD OF A REGIMENT. ^7 

heavily aniKMl IJi-ilisli 1i'ans])()i'ts, the AimnhcUtt and 
the Iloirr, aii<l immediately l)e<>aii a riiiiiiiiin' li<;hl 
with them, the enemy piittinji' ou all sail to escape. 
They finally evaded the Americans by running;' into 
Nantasket Koads. 

Toward evenin*;' the Americans met the ^lassa- 
chnsetts State cruiser Defense, Captain Seth Ilardinii-, 
which had sailtMl from Plymouth that morning, and, 
beinji;' attracted by the heavy tirin<;', drew toward the 
scene of hostilities. An arrangement was soon made 
between Ilardinji,', Waters, and the ]>rivateersnien, 
and about eh^ven o'clock the Defense boldly ran int(> 
the K<»ads, and iic^tinu:,- between the two transports, 
within i»istol-sliot distance, IlardinjL;' called upon the 
British to strike their colors. A voice from one of 
the trooi)sliii>s was Inward, in re])ly, " Ay, ay — Til 
sti'ik(%" and a broadside was ]»oured into the Defense. 
The Americans }»romptly resjyonded, and after an 
hour of heavy hrinii, the British calhMl for quarter. 
The trans]»orts were found to have on board about 
two hundred reuulars of th(^ Seventy-tirst Kei^iment. 
AmoniLi' the ])risoners was Lieut(Miant ('ani])bell. 
Ei<2,hteen of the Knulislimen had been killed in the 
action and a lar^ci- number wcn-e wounded. On the 
]>art of the Americans not one was killed and only 
nine wer<^ injured. Amoni; the British dead was 
Major M(''nzi(^s, ^^il() had answered the summons to 
surrender with " Ay, ay — I'll strik(\'" Lient<Miant 
Caniidxdl afterward was exchanged, was a^aiu ca]»- 
lured by our sea forces, and finally, having attained 
the i-ank of lieutiMiant-colonel, dist inunished liim- 
S(df in the soutliern cam[>aii;ns against (li'cM'ue. 

Ou fh(^ followinjn- morninu,- the Americans discov- 
ered another sail in the offinii', whi<di was (diased, and 
on beinji' captured prov(Ml to be the trans] »ort Joint 
((Nil (ief)f(/e, carryinj;' six nuns and having- on board 
one hundred soldiers of the same reiniuient. By 
this daring' strid-ie the ]>rivate ai'm<Ml vess(ds ca])- 
tured three liundi-ed men of one of the best Eniilish 



gg BEGINNING HOSTILITIES. 1774-1779. 

regiments in America. The Dcfcii.sr, in 1779, was lost 
in the ill-fated Penobscot ex]>e(liti()n. 

J^lome of the other States also fitted out cruisers 
at the outbreak of hostilities. On November 14, 1775, 
Clement Lemi)riere was plac(Ml in command of the 
South Carolina shi]) rrospcr. On the 11th of the same 
month the ai'uied schooner Dcfcuxc, also belonging 
to that State, \Yhile sinking some hulks in Ilog Island 
Cr(vk, Charleston harbor, was tired on bj the British 
Kl-gun shij) T<nii(ir and the (J-gun schooner Chcrolrv. 
On December 21, 1775, North Candina authorized the 
e(|ui]»ment of three arme<l vessids for the pi-otection 
of her coast trade. She also armed the sloop *SV///// for 
river defense. Virginia early established a board of 
commissioners to superintend her naval affairs. 

That all our ])rivate maritime enterprises were not 
successful is shown by British records. I'"'rom 1774 
to 177() the enemy (4aim to have captured the follow- 
ing vessels belonging to the ndxdling colonies: 
The Bel i.sd rills, of twenty guns; the 1/ iiss(ii\ of twenty- 
four guns; the l^iilliniii, of (dghteen guns; the ToIkhjo, 
of twelve gnus, and the Wdncii. These vessels no- 
where a])])ear in American records; but although 
some of them, while classed in British accounts under 
the general head " American," doubtless belonged to 
other Noi'th American colonies aside from the thir- 
teen in rewolt, yet one or two of them may have been 
correctly traced. The fact that this list includes ves- 
sels taken as early as 1774 also leaves room for the 
su]»positiou that some of them may have been un- 
armed <'oasting vessels arbitrarily detained by the 
l^ritish bhx'kading ships. 

The ])rivate armed bi'ig Wasli'iiu/foii, Captain Mar- 
tindal(% carrying len guns, ten swivels, and eighty 
men, was <-aptur(Ml off tlu^ coast of North Carolina 
by the British frigate FDini/ and carried into Boston. 
This vessel, tog<4h(M" with foui* other shii)s seized by 
the enemy, were left in Boston in a dismantled state 
after they evacuated that city. 



CHAPTER V. 

FIRST TWO YEARS. 

When the American colonists finallj realized that 
they mnst resort to open hostilities in order to main- 
tain their rights, they became extremely active in tit- 
ting out vessels at private expense. Every seaport 
soon had its (jnota of i)rivateers scouring the seas or 
hovering on the coasts of the enemy. Merchant shii)s 
that were no longer able to i)ly their usual trade were 
hastily fitted with a few guns and were sent to sea 
with a commission. Fishing smacks Avere divested 
of their cargoes and were transformed into Ixdligor- 
ent craft, while even whaleboats ventured out, 
and in many cases succeeded in making valuable^ 
prizes. 

In the first two years of the war New Hampshire, 
although ])retending to only one considerable seaport, 
sent out eight privateers, while her i)owerful neigh- 
bor, Massachusetts, had in commission fifty-three. 
Little Rhode Island and Connecticut had six and 
twenty-two, respectively, and even New York, whose 
principal seaport was held by the British through 
most of the war, managed to secure seven commis- 
sions. New Jersey, in the first two years, had only 
one privateer credited to her, but Pennsylvania had 
thirteen and ^Maryland twenty-one, while six were 
sent out from South Carolina and three from North 
Carolina, making a total of one hundred and forty- 
two privateers fitted out by the colonists in the first 
two full years of the war. '' The peoi)le have gone 

69 



70 FIRST TWO YEARS. 1776. 

mad a-privateerinji," said one of the writers of tlie 
day, and iu some eases the expression " the enemy's 
eoasts are swarmini;- Avith our armed ships " was lit- 
erally trn(\ This was esi)eeially the ease off Halifax 
and in the CJnlf of ^t. Lawrenee, where so many 
American privateers had eolleeted that they, in trntli, 
very much interfered with one another. In reading- 
over the personal narratives of privateersmen cou- 
(•(n-ned in that ]>eriod, it is surprisin.u' in how many 
instances we tind American privatiMM-s chased by 
their own conntrymen, and in some instances i;uns, 
]irovisions, and other e(]ni])aj;e were thrown away in 
frantic effort to escape from friends. 

Amoni;' the first of thes(» privateers to net to sea 
were the Ydithcc, the Ymthr Ifcro, and the YaiiJxfc 
lidiifin-, all of Massa<-hnsetts. Like the vessels bear- 
inji the name " Yankee " in the War of 1S12, this trio 
of Revolutionary Yankees had sini^nlarly excitin<2,' and 
varied exjM'riences. The Yaiilrc was a lari^e sloop, 
carryinn nine nuns and a complement of sixteen men, 
under th<' command of Caittain Johnson. She j;<)t to 
sea early in the war, and in July, 1770, captured the 
valuable British merchantmen (Uyit/litoii and /jnchara, 
laden with rum and su,L!,ar. Johnson <letailed prize 
crews to man these vessels, and then ])roceeded to 
escort them to an American i)ort. liefoi-e gaininii; a 
]»lace of saf(^ty, however, the prisoners in the prizes 
rctse on their ca]»t(n's, retook the ships, and then 
united in an attack on the YdiiJcrc. ('a})tain Johnson, 
as we have noted, had only sixteen men, whicdi num- 
ber had been seriously reduc(Ml by the di'afts for 
]>rize crews. T^ach of the British crews numbered 
more than the (Mitire crew of the Y<iiil-(<\ and, as the 
merchantmen w<M*e well arnuMt, the prisoners soon 
com]>(dled the ])rivateer to surrender. The (Ur}</]ito}i 
an<l ZdclKira arrived at Dover, Eni>land, with their 
l)rize, the )'<iiil-(<\ and ('a])tain Johnson, with his men, 
was tlll•o^^■n into .Mill Prison. 

Scarce! v less unfortunate than the Ydiil'vc was the 



1776. THE "YANKEP^S" OP MASSACHUSETTS. 71 

Yankee Hero, Captain J. Tracy, a brig of foiu'teen gnus, 
with a crew of forty men. lu June, 177(), this priva- 
teer was cliased by the English frigate Lircli/. Cap- 
tain Tracy did his best to outsail his powerful pur- 
suer, but the Englishuiau managed to get alongside 
and compelled the Americans to surrender; not, how- 
ever, until the latter had made a desi)erate resistance, 
in which four of their number were killed and thir- 
teen were wounded. The Yankee Rain/d- was nu)re 
fortunate than either of her sisters. In August, ITK;, 
she made i)rizes of three brigs laden with cotton, 
coffee, and oil. 

Some of the other successful privateers from 
Massachusetts were the 10-gun scliooner America, Cap- 
tain McNeil, which in October, 1777, cai>tur(Ml a ship 
laden witii rum, sugar, wiiu', and logwood. The 12- 
gun brig (liarinuKj I'ef/m/, Captain J. Jaiiucey, in 
()ctob(M', 177(>, seized a small vessel having a cargo of 
provisions, and the schooner Dolphin, Ca]»tain LcNicli, 
in September, 177(1, ca]»tured tlu' bi'ig h'oi/dl (Sconje 
(also laden with ])i'ovisions) and a sloojt loaded with 
fish. The brig Hannah and Mollif, Ca]»tain Crabtree, 
in the sanu^ yeai' took a slii]) mounting foui- guns and 
eight swivels, one brig, two schooners, and a sloop — 
a very successful cruise for that day. These vessels 
were taki^i by a stratagtnn in the harbor of Liver- 
pool, Nova Scotia. The (l-gun scliooner I ndependiiiee, 
Ca])tain Nichols, in Se]>tember, 177(5, ca]>tured six 
vessels; while the / ndependenej/. Captain (Jill, in the 
same month took a brig, but it was retaken by the 
prisoners. 

In Sei»tember, 177(>, the S-gun brig Joseph, Ca])taiu 
C.Babl)idge, afterward commanded by Ca])tains I'^ield 
and West, mad(^ a ])rize of a schooner in ballast, and 
two mouths later took a valuable ship. In Septem- 
ber, 177(J, the l(»-guu brig Massachuxells, Ca])tain I). 
Soutlier, ca]>tHred a bi'ig of six guns and twenty-eight 
men, having on board a couipauy of dragoons. About 
the same tiuie the 12-guu sh)oj> licpiiltlic, (\»])tain John 



72 



FIRST TWO YEARS. 1776, 



Foster Williams,^ captured two valuable ships, one 
named JiiVius Casar, and sent tbeni into Boston. The 
Retaliation, a 10-gun briji' commanded by a Mr. Giles, 
took, in the same .year, after a severe action of two 
hours' duration, a ship armed with two guns. 

]kIost successful of all the privateers commissioned 
from Massachusetts in the first two years of the war 
was the 12-.<iun sloop Rcvvikjc, Captain J. White. In 
August, 17T(), this vessel captured the ships Anna 
Maria and /*o//// (the former with a cargo of rum and 
sugar, and the latter laden with wine), the brigs 
flarhqiiin and Faiinij, laden with rum and sugar; the 
sloop Bctsi'ji, and one other that was given up to the 
])ris()uers. Prizes also were taken in this year by the 
Massachusetts privateers Rorcr, Captain Forrester, a 
sloo]) of eight guns, and the 8-gun sloop Spccchcdl, 
(''ai)tain (h-eely. The h'orcr had an action with the 
British merchant slii]> Africa, which was maintained 
with mucli obstinacy until a sliot iguit(Ml the Africa's 
uuigaziuc, blowing the craft to ])ieccs, only three of 
her complement of twenty-six uu'U being saved. The 
Rorcr also took the brigs Mar// and Janic.s, l^arah Ann, 
and (lood latent, besides the snow Lirelif. 

On October 14, ITTC), the (J-gun schooner General 
Gates, Captain B. Tatem, ca])tured a schooner, but 
shortly afterward, while off Portsnu)uth, New ITamp- 
shire, was herself taken by the English brig Hope. 
The American commander and his men escaped by 
swimming ashoi'e. While cruising off Boston, June, 
177(>, the sloo]> Lad/i WaxltinijUn^ Captain Cunning- 
ham, was attacked by four aruu^d barges from British 
war shi]ts. The ])rivat(M'r beat the boats off, killing 
several of the Englishmen. In October the Lady 
Was]iin<jfon, again cruising near Boston, captured, a 
ship with a cargo of rum, sugar, and cotton. In the 
same month the 6-gun schooner Liberty, Captain 

' Altcrward ;i succcssfiil coniinaiKlcf in tlie sci'vice of Massachusetts. 
See vnl. i, ].. !l!l. Maclay's History of tlie Xavy. 



177C-1779. NEW YORK AND MARYLAND PRIVATEERS. 73 

Pierce, seized a sliip with a cargo of tisli and Inni- 
ber. 

The lialtiiiiorc JIvro was one of the first privateers 
to leave tlie waters of Maryhuid. She was a schooner 
carrying from six to fonrteen guns, /and was com- 
manded at first by Captain T. Waters, and in 1771) 
by Captain J. Earle, Und(n* Earh^ she had an action 
with a British privateer schooner of fourteen guns 
in Chesapeake Bay and ca])tured her. About the 
same time the BaJtiinorc I/cro put to sea the Bcfsci/, - 
Captain B. Dashiell, saikxl from the Chesapeake. She 
was a sloop of ten guns. A private armed brig of tlie"* 
same name saikMl from ^laryland waters under the 
command of Cai)tain J. Brice in 1777, and under Cap-^ 
tain B. Brudhurst in 1778. Bctsci/ seems to have been 
a favorite name for privateers in tliis war. Now 
York, Massatdinsetts, Pennsylvania, Khode Island, 
and Connecticut each being credited with a Bctsci/. 

The (>-gun sloop Bearvv, Captain S. Dean, sailed 
from New York in 1770, 1779, and again in 1781. In 
June, 1779, she captured a sloop. A privateer 
schooner of tliis name, but carrying twice the nuiuber 
of guns, was commissioned from Connecticut in 1778, 
under the command of Ca])tain I). Scoville, and one 
from Pennsylvania, commanded by Captain W. Har- 
ris. Betwec^n August :> and (>, 1770, the 10-gun sloop 
Brooin, Captain AW Knott, of Connecticut, ca])tured 
the shi]) (lurrlvs aii<l t^alJi/, the snow .1//^/, and the 
brigs (^(iroJ'uic and John. These vessels were laden 
with rum, sugar, and fustic. Of the other private 
armed vessels sailing from Connecticut the WdsJiiiKj- 
toii, Warren, N/^/A *^i^f^ *S7/rnA* were the most success- 
ful. In September, 177(5, tlie WdsliiiH/foii, Captain 
Odiorne, took the brig (/corn'id and a schooner, both 
laden with rum and sugar, Ix^sides making prize of 
a snow having a cargo of cannon aboard. 

The Witrrcii, Captain Coas, in April took the sloop 
Bctscji (1)1(1 PoUji, and in the following June, while 
under the command of Captain Phillips, seized a 

8 



74 FIRST TWO YEARS. 1776-1779. 

ti'ansport armed with four guns aud liavini>' on board 
one buudrod soldiers. Several weeks later this priva- 
teer captured the shi}) Isaac and Pic<iij/, and in Au- 
gust she captured a brig carrying three guns and ten 
swivels. In this prize was a quantit}' of gold dust 
and ivorv. Before the close of the year the Warren 
herself fell into the hands of the British frigate Liver- 
pool. The >>pi/ and Shark cruised for some time with 
Captain Hopkins' Siiuadron, and in August, 177G, the 
former took the shi}* Hope, and in the f(dlowing 
month the schooniu- Man/ ami Elizabeth, both prizes 
being laden with coffee and sugar. In 1771) the Shark 
made four prizes. 

Of the privateers that ])ut to sea early in the war 
those from Pennsylvania seem to have mci with the 
greatest success. The Chance, a little sloop mounting 
four guns, under the command of ('a])tain J. Adams, 
in .May, 177(>, took the valuable sliii) Ladi/ Juliana. 
The 24-gun ])i-ivateer (^ornet, about tlu^ same time, 
while off St. Kilts, fell in with a heavily arnK^l Brit- 
ish merchantman, and for thre(^ hours engaged her at 
close (piarters, when the Englishmen managed to 
escape with the loss of their mizzenmast. 

Th(^ audacity of Captain S. Cleaveland, of the brig 
Despalch, is ty]»ical. This vessel left Philadelphia 
witluuit a gun aboard, her commander taking his 
chances of <a]>turing some kind of an armament on 
the ]>assage across the Atlantic or of jmrchasing guns 
in France. Caittain Cleavelaml had not been to sea 
many days befoi-e he captured a vessel, and, trans- 
ferring the guns to his own shi]), continued his cruise. 

The 12-gun brig (leneral Miffiin, Captain J. Hamil- 
ton, in 177(J m;ide directly for British waters, where 
she took severid valuable vessels, one of them being a 
shi]) with a cargo of wine. On her return i>assage 
the General Mifflin fell in with a British i^rivateer 
carrying eigldeeii guns ami eighty men. An action 
was imuHHliately begun, and the lOngiishmeu, after 
havinsi' sustained a loss of twentv-two killed or 



1776-1775. PENNSYLVANIA GUNBOATS. 75 

wounded, inoliuliug their comiiiaiider, suiTendered. 
The American casualties Avere thirteen. 

In October of the same year the (Uiicnil Moiit- 
qotiK'fi/, a brig of twelve gnns and one hundred men, 
under Captain Montgomery, came across a fleet of 
one hundred merchantmen, convoyed by several Brit- 
ish war ships. By adroit maneuvering the privateer 
managed to cut out one of the merchantmen, the shi]> 
Thvti.s, with a cargo of rum and sugar. 

Other privateers commissioned from Pennsylvania 
that got to sea early in the war were the G-gun brig 
Xaucif, the 14-gun snow R<in<n'r, and the 14-gun brig 
Sturdif Bc(/</<ir. The Xaiicif, on June 2t), ITTG, was 
chased ashore near Cajte Henry by a British cruiser. 
After getting a portion of their cargo and i)owder 
on land the Americans blew the Xdiici/ up. The 
Raii</(i\ Captain Hudson, captured two storeships 
laden with military supplies. The Sturdi/ Bct/f/dr, in 
May, 1778, was captured, with eight other American 
vessels, in Croswell Creek by an English force con- 
sisting of two schooners, four gunboats, four galleys, 
and about twenty Hatboats, und<n' the command of 
Ca])tain Henry, of the Royal Navy, and ^Nlajor Mait- 
land. 

Besides her i)rivateers Bennsylvania had a num- 
ber of galleys built esix-cially for river defense. They 
were armed with two or three guns each and carried 
from twenty to tifty men. Tln^se boats were con- 
structed under a resolution ])assed by the IVnnsyl- 
vania Council of Safety, July G, 1775, under which 
Robert A\Jdte and Owen Biddlewere ai)pointed a com- 
mittee to attend to the construction of these gun- 
boats and to prei)are machines for the deftuise of the 
Delaware. The first of these- boats to be launched 
Avas the Hull 1)(kj, built by the Messrs. Manuel, Jehu, 
and lienjamin (J«M)rge Eyre, foi- half a century W(dl- 
known shipbuilders in Philadelphia. The liuU Do<j, 
Captain Henderson, took the water July 2G, 1775, and 
the others followed in rapi<l succession. They were 



76 



FIRST TWO YEARS. 



177r)-177(). 



tlie fhirlr, Captain Blair; the Caiiidfu, Captain Nicho- 
las Biddle, afterward famous in the navy; the 
(lidthdiii, Cai»tain J. Monttioniery; tli«' <U)ii</irs.s, Cap- 
tain Hamilton; tlu^ (Utiin-iifioii, Ca]ttain J. Kiee; the 
Dchnrair, Ca])tain Don^litv; the Dicl-'uisoii, Captain 
Ivice; the HffJiKjlunu, Captain ^Mears; the E.rpcr'uiioif, 
Cai)tain Tiiompson; the Fninl-liii, Captain Biddle; the 
II(Uic(K-l\ Captain ^loore; the i^pHfiir, Cai)tain Ci-imes; 

and the Wdrrcii. The Spitfire, 
on Aniiust 8, ITTO, tixdv i)art 
in the atta(dv on the British 
war shi]>s I'osc and I'lidiii.v in 
Hudson iJiver. In tins alfair 
the Spilp'rc had one man 
killed and three wonnded. 
IVnnsylvania also had a fire 
ship called the J'Jfiui, com- 
manded by William Canible. 
The IxdiKjcr, a craft hastily 
fitted for harbor defense, in 
()ctob<M', 177."), nnder the 
orders of Cai>tain Hnme, cap- 
tured a West India ])rivateer. 
The vessel was carried by 
boarding, the English having 
some fortA' men killed or 
wounded before they surrender(Ml. 

Amono' the fii'st jn-ivateers to oet to sea from 
South Carolina was the 14-i;un briii (UhiicI, (^aptain 
J. Turj)in. This vessel sailed on her first cruise with- 
out instructions. On November 2, 177(1, she captured 
the shi]» C/r///.s-.s7/, the scdiooner Marin, and the sloop 
f/royv/r. The Chirissd was laden with lumber and had 
on board forty nei^i-oes. 

New York, liavini; her most available seaport in 
the hands of the <'n(Mny during the urc^ater j)art of 
the war, did not send out her usual <iuota of armed 
craft. Some of her ships put to sea, however, and 
were successful. The sloo]) M(nihj<n)ui-ji, Captain Wil- 




Colonel .leliu Eyre of the 
Philudclphia firm of ship- 
builders. 

From a silhouette. 



1776. NEW ITAMPSHTRE PRIVATEERS. 77 

li;nii liO(li»ers, in 177(> (•a])<iiro(l two l)i'i<j,s, one 
scliooncr, and one sloo]); while the ])i-iva(('ei' l>(cliiiiil('i\ 
Captain J. Smith, in Jnno took a ship having- on board 
twenty prisoners. In An^^nst the Scliiij/Jcr seized tive 
other vessels and re<'a])tnred the Naiivji. Tln^ valley 
MltifuH/, Captain McCleave, on An*;nst 3, 17T(», took 
])art in the attack on tlu^ British war shii)s Rose and 
/'lidni.r, the galley having one man killed and fonr 
wonnded. 

The only privateer from New Jersey that sne- 
eeeded in i^c^tinii to sea early in the war was the 
schooner Eiitcrprlsv, Captain J. Campbell. In Jnly 
and An<;nst, 177(>, she eaptnred the shi}) Ldiicasfcr, 
earryinji' fonr <»nns and sixteen men; the ship llhtcl- 
Hudlr, with a cargo of rnni and sngar; the snow Jdiiics, 
having twenty-three men and a cargo of nndasses and 
rnm, and the ship Modcxfi/, laden with sngar. On Jnly 
22d the Eiifcrprixc eaptnred the slii]) EarJ of IJrroI, 
monnting six guns and having a cargo valned at one 
hnndred thonsand dollars. On the same day the 
Enterprise took the ship Xeris after a spirited action 
of one honr. 

New Hampshire, in 1776, sent ont the 12-gnn brig 
Pufitaiii, Captain J. Harman, which in one crnise cap- 
tured a slii]) and fonr schooners. Other private armed 
craft sent out from I'ortsmonth in this year were the 
brig Enterprise, Captain I). Jackson; the 14-gnn sloop 
If<trle<iiiiii, Cai)tain 1). Shaw; the 6-gnn schooner 
Meddrfi, Captain W. Parker; and the 20-gnn ship 
Poiisnioidli. 

The ])rivate(n-s sent ont from IJhode Island in 1770 
were highly successful. I^etween July 1st and Au- 
gust oOth the I)i<(in()ii(l, Captain N. Chas(\ captured 
the shi])s rhiiie, l^lur (iiul (Utrter, and Erieiidship, the 
brig Mars, and the snow Pdrllaiid. These vessels had 
cargoes of cocoa, fustic, rum, and sugar. In August 
the ])rivateer Ea(/h\ Ca])tain Taine, took the ship 
Vc///^v,with a cargo of mahogany, shells, etc. She also 
s(Mzed another shi]> (name not given) laden with rum, 



78 FIRST TWO YEARS. 177G. 

sugar, cotton, aud the brig TUufnilu, with a cargo of 
tobacco. In the following October the brig Favorite, 
Captain Coffin, captured a ship and a schooner, with 
cargoes of pimento, rum, and sugar. Two 3'ears later 
the same privateer, while under the orders of Cap- 
tain Lamb, captured a ship armed with sixteen guns 
having a cargo of logwood. The 10-gun brig IiKlitstri/, 
Captain Child, in 177G, captured a brig, and then had 
a drawn battle with a ship of ten guns. The action 
lasted two hours, with a loss of two killed and six 
wounded on the part of the American. In October the 
IG-gun ship Moiiti/oiiicrj/, Captain Bucklon, captured 
the ships Rover, IsahelJa, and llarlcqiiiii and the brigs 
Devonshire and Henry. The 12-gun brig Put nam, Cap- 
tain Ferguson, took four ships; and the same vessel, 
while under the command of Captain C. Whii)])le, 
captured two snows, one brig, and had a severe action 
with an armed ship. The J n<lepen<Jenee, of ten guns, 
also mad(^ a cruise under Captain Thomas Whipple. 



CHAPTER VI. 



NAVY OFFICERS IN PUIVATEEKS. 



We can better ai)i)ro(*iate the lii{j,li plaue to which 
privateeriiiii had been raised, at tlie liaiids of Ameri- 
can seamen in the war for indei)endence, when we 
renuMnber that some sixty 
of our most formidabh^ 
privateers were command- 
ed by men wlio were, or 
soon afttn-ward became, 
(•ai»tains in tlie navy. In 
fact, tlie privateer service 
became tlie trainin<;' sidiool 
of onr embryo navy, not 
only in sni)plyini!,' (dticers, 
bnt seamen. The condi- 
tions of early privateerinii 
were such as to develo]> 
an exceptionally capable 
iLironj) of officers, and not a 
little of the niarvelons snc- ^ 

cess attained by the infant navy of the United States 
is directly traceable to this circnmstance. 

Amoni;- the first of our navy officers to engage in 
privateerinj^' was TJentenant Joshna Barney.^ Bar- 
ney had been taken prisoner early in the war, and 
after a confinement of nearlv five months in the 




' For Pianicy's brilliant servici's in (Ih' War of 1813 see Maelay's His 
tory of tlif Xavy, vol. i, pp. 5S8-.585. 

79 



80 NAVY OFFICERS IN PRIVATEERS. 1778-1779. 

prison sliips at New York lie was oxchanjied for an 
EDij;lisli officer of equal rank — the first lieutenant of 
the British frigate Mermaid, which had been com- 
pelled, by the approach of the French fleet, in July, 
1778, to run ashore on the Jersey side of the Dela- 
ware. Makinj;' his way to Baltimore, Barney secured 
the command of a trading- vessel, which was described 
as "■ a fine little schooner, armed with tw<> <>uns and 
(M^lit men,'' having,' a cariio of tobacco bound for St. 
Eustatia. This craft had a short and unfortunate 
careei-. In <j,<)in_o- down (Miesaj^eake Bay she fell in 
with an Eni;lish privateer carrying;, four o'uns and 
sixty men, and after a running' fi_u,lit of a few minutes 
was overtaken and carried by boardini;", the Ameri- 
cans havinii' one man killed and two wounded. As 
the Eniilishman had no dcsii-e to iiicuml)er himself 
with i>risoners, he landed them at Cinai)uxent, on the 
eastern shore of the Chesapeake, and sailed away 
with the prize. 

Lieutenant Barney returned to Baltimore, where, 
after several weeks S})ent in a vain endeavor to secure 
another vessel, he met his old commander, Captain 
Isaiah Robinson, whose creditable career in the navy 
also has been recorded.^ These two officers soon 
cauK^ to an ap;reement by whi(di IJobinson was to 
secure the command of a i)rivateer and Barney was 
to serve in her as first officer. ^Mmdi difficulty was 
found in secui-iiii:, a suitable vess(d, and still more in 
jncttiuii,' tlu' necessary arms, ammunition, and men, so 
that it was not until February, 1779, that they were 
abh^ to leave Ah^xandria on a private cruise. The 
craft they secured was the brii^' Poiiioiki, carrying- 
twelve guns, of varying calibers, and a crew of 
thirty-five men. ^^lle was loaded with tobacco con- 
signed to Bordeaux. 

The adventures of these two navy officers began 
on the third day after clearing the Capes, when they 

' Sec Maolay'y History of the Navy, vol. i, p. 45. 



1779. THE POMONA-ROSEBUD FIGPIT. 81 

were discovered by a vessel aud chased. As Captain 
Robinson's first object was to get the cariio of tobacco 
safel}^ to France, he made every endeavor to avoid 
the stranger, bnt she proved to be a reniarkabl}" fast 
sailer. At eight o'clock in the evening, a fall, un- 
clouded moon giving the chase every opportunity, 
the stranger came within hailing distance, and, run- 
ning up English colors, asked, " What ship is that?" 
The only answer Kobinson made was to show his 
flag, whi(di Ihe Englishman immcdiatel}^ ordered 
down. 

The PoiitoiKi tlien delivered her broadside, which 
brought down the enemy's fore-topsail, cut away some 
of their rigging, and ai)])arently caused much sur- 
prise and confusion on board. The Englishman re- 
sponded with his battery, and a running fight was 
kept up until nearly midnight. Early in the fight the 
enemy discovered that the Ameri<'ans had no stern 
gun ports, and availing themselves of this they ma- 
neuvered for positions oil' the Poiiiona's stern and 
quarters where she could not ivturn their fire. As 
an evidence of the confusion into which the enemy 
had been thrown by the first broadside from the 
Pomona, it was noted that, with all their advantage 
of position, the English gunners were able to fire only 
one or two shots every half hour. Noting this, Kobin- 
son caused a ])ort to be cut in his stern and a long 
3-pounder whipi)ed up from the gun deck and run out 
of it. 

This was accomplished about midnight, when the 
Englishmen were drawing near for another shot. 
Apparently they had not discovered the shift in the 
PomonifH armament, for they drew (piite near, and 
received such a discharge of gra])e that they hauled 
off and did not again come within gunshot that 
night. 

The light of day showed the Americans that the 
stranger was a brig of sixtcH'U guns, and as several 
officers could be seen through her ports w^earing 



j^O NAVY OFFICERS IN PRIVATEERS. 1779. 

uniforms, it was belicn-ed tliat she was a regular 
cruiser. Afterward it was learned the stranger was 
only a jirivateer, and her officers had resorted to the 
trick of donning uniform and displaying themselves 
in conspicuous places, so as to lead the Americans 
to believe that they were contending against one of 
the king's cruisers. This, the English thought, would 
show the Americans the hopelessness of the struggle, 
and Avould induce them to surrender without further 
resistance. But Captain Ixobinson was not to be 
frightened by gcdd buttons and epaulets, and when 
about sunrise the stranger ran close under the 
PoiiioiKr.s stern for the ])uri)ose of boarding the 
Americans made every ])reparation for giving her a 
warm reception. The solitary o-])()under in the stern 
^^■as loaded with gra])eshot, and the charge was 
topped off by a crowbar stuck into the muzzle. 

Just as th<' English were about to board Barney, 
with his own hand, discharg(Ml this gun, and with 
such accurate aim that the l^ritish were completely 
battled in tluMi* attem]it, their foresails and all their 
weathei' foreshrouds being cut away. The loss of 
these sui)ports com]»elIed th<* Englishman to wear in 
order to save his foremast from going by the board. 
This UKUumver gave the Americans an excellent 
chance foi' raking, and ])romptly going about Bobin- 
son delivei-ed an effective broadside. The enemy did 
not again return to the attack, so the Poiiioita resumed 
her course, an-iving in Bordeaux without further in- 
cident. 

Captain Bobinson afterward learned that his an- 
tagonist was the ])riYateer Ros<hii<l, Cajttain l^uncan, 
with a crew of one hundred men, of whom forty-seven 
were killed or wounded. The I\oschn<1 made her way 
to New York, where Duncan " charged " the Ameri- 
cans with " unfair lighting in using langrage." The 
only langrage Captain Bobinson used on this occa- 
sion was the crowbar referred to. 

No better illustration of the dare-devil spirit of 



1779. THE POMONA CAPTURES A PRIVATEER. :s3 

our privtiteersmen can be had than in the iiianiier 
many of them put to sea. Any old tub of a craft, if 
nothiuji' better offered, would do them, and if there 
were no cannon the junk shops were ransacked for 
old muskets, pistols, blunderbusses, swords, hand- 
spikes, and knives, and the commander went to sea in 
the hope of capturinii' merchantmen and transferrinii' 
their armaments to liis shij). Many of our ]>rivat(MM-s 
put to sea in this condition and met with astonish- 
ing success. 

The PoiiioiKi sailed from the Clu'sapeake with guns, 
it is true, but with less than she was pierciMl f(U', and 
the cannon she did cari-y were of varying and small 
calibers, which ma<le it <lifHcult to secure^ the |)roi)er- 
sized shot. She also started out with only half her 
complement, hoping to make u]) the full number 
from pros]tective prisoners. As we have seen, she 
did not succeed in making any prizes on her way 
across the Atlantic, but on reaching I>oi-deaux ('a]>- 
tain llobinson sold his cargo of tobacco, and from 
the proceeds loaded with brandy and purchased 
eighteen 6-pounders, the regular armament of the 
brig, and a sufficient quantity of ])owder and shot. 
He also succeeded in enlisting thirty-tive additional 
men, raising his complement to seventy. Sailing from 
Bordeaux in the early part of August, 177!), in this 
much-improved condition, the Poiiioiki sha])ed her 
course for the return passage to America. 

One morning at daylight, wIumi about halfway 
across the ocean, Captain IJobinson made a sail which, 
from her peculiar maneuvers, seemed to be " feel- 
ing " the P()iii()iHi\s strength. By the time the sun rose 
the vessels had come within gunshot and several 
broadsides were exchanged, but at the end of the first 
half hour the stranger crowded on sail befoi'e the wind 
to escape. The Americans were ])]'om]»tly in chase, 
but being heavily laden tlu^ Poiiioiki steadily fell be- 
hind, although she managed to keep the enemy in 
sight all that day. 



84 



NAVY OFFICERS IN PRIVATEERS. 



177il. 



Toward oveiiiiii;' a sqiinll of wind and rain camo 
on. Availinii' liinisolf of tliis Captain Itobinson 
crowdiMl on canvas, and on ai^ain coniinii,' np with the 
straniicM' oxclianiiod several more broadsides, the 
Englishman still end(^avoriu,<>- to escape. During the 
night the chaso was hrst sight of, bnt on the follow- 
ing morning slio was made ont, in the somewhat thick 
weallicr, fonr or live miles ahead, it tlu^n being calm. 
<'a]>tain K(dniison now got ont his swe(q)S, and by 
dint of hard rowing managed to got alongside of 
his foe for the third time, when the stranger, without 
waiting for another broadside, surr<'ndered at the 

hrst summons. The prize 
was found to be an Eng- 
lish i)rivateer carrying 
sixteen guns, G- and 
!l-]»ounders, and a crew 
of seventy men. Twelve 
of her ])eoj)le had been 
killed and a number 
wounded, besides which 
she had been seriously 
injui-ed in her hull, rig- 
ging, and spars. The 
only man killed in the 
roiiioiKi was a lad who 
had slii])[)ed at Bordeaux 
as a ])assenger. Two 
of tlie Americans were 
wound(Ml. Lieutenant Rarn<\y, with a prize crew, 
to(dv possession of the private(M% and both vessels 
arrived safely at Pliihid(d]»hia in the following- 
October. Both Caidain Robinson and Lieutenant 
Barney realized a liandsonu^ fortune in this au- 
dacious venture.^ 

One of the most successful commanders in the 




1 For the (■untiiiiiat ii)ii of IJarney's hfilliaiit career in the privateer serv- 
ice, see chupters xii and xiv, Part Fiist. 



1779-1781. THE PROSPERITY'S HARD FIGHT. 85 

uavy of the llevoliitioii was Captain John Barry.^ 
This enterprising otlrtcer, like most of his In'others in 
the service, at times was unable to <iet a command 
in the navy, and employed the interim by ])rivateer- 
ing. Some of the armed vessels placed under his 
orders were the l(l-iiuii brig Ddairarv, the G-gun brig 
General Ifotiiijouicri/, and the 24-giin shi}) Rorer. A 
packet ship mounting six guns, called the Rorer, was 
captured by an American privateer in 1779 under the 
command of Captain Sweet. 

Equall}' successful was AlexandtM' Murray, who 
served with such distinction as a captain in the navy 
during the wars with I-^rance and Tripcdi.- While 
commanding the i)rivateer Rrospcj-ifif, a brig carrying 
five 6-pounders and twenty-five men, Cai)tain !Mur- 
ray, in 1781, sailed for St. Croix Avith a cargo of to- 
bacco. AAdien a few days out he f(dl in with a British 
privat(H'r of fourteen guns, and after two hours of 
hard fighting drove her off. The enemy made several 
att(Mui)ts to board, but were rejudled with great loss. 
The Prosinrifif was so injured in this action that soon 
afterward she lost her masts, and it was only with 
great difficulty tliat ^Murray reached St. Thomas. 
Here he refitted, and taking on board a full armament 
of fourteen guns, he sailed for the UnitcMl States. 
When off l*ort Itoyal he captured a British packet 
ship. 

Captain Murray also commanded the privateers 
(U)JiniiJ)ii.s, the (i<iier(il Mera r, the Reremje, ea<'h of ten 
guns, and the 12-gun brig ^<ir<if()(/<i. In the Sardlof/d 
^Murray ca])tured an English cutter of ten guns and 
fifty-two men. On this occasion Ca]»tain ^lurray was 
assisted by Silas Talbot, of the navy. The Hdrnhxja, 
in 1779, had just taken the English brig (liauee, when 
the -l/v/o, Ca])tain Talbot, hove in sight, and after clos- 
ing ui>on tlie cutter carried her by boarding,the Amer- 

' For IJari-y's naval career, see Macla-y's History of the Navy, vol. i, 
p].. ;5!», 42, 43, 92-94, 145-147. 

2 See Maclay's History of the Navy, vol. i, iip. 105, 167, 187, 197, 235. 



86 NAVY OFFICERS IN PRIVATEERS. 1779-1777. 

icans having four killed and several wonnded. In the 
following year Murray, then commanding the Re- 
vciKjc, cut out a brig from a convoy of fifty sail. Arm- 
ing his prize and placing a good crew aboard, Captain 
JMurray continued his cruise in company with his 
prize as a '' commodore." Soon afterward he fell in 
with another American privateer, when the little 
s(iuadron was attacked by three English privateer 
schooners in company with an armed ship and a brig, 
one of the first instances of a *' fleet action " we have 
in which privateers were the sole participants. Soon 
r(»alizing that they were dealing with ships better 
stored with shot and powder than with rich merchan- 
dise, the American and British privateersmen de- 
sisted and resumed their search for more temi)ting 
]>riz('s. While cruising on the Newfoundland Banks 
the licrciH/c captured a British i)rivateer. Then 
standing for the English coast, Captain ^Murray was 
chased and captured by a frigate. 

rerha]>s the most successful of all the navy offi- 
cers who served their ai)prenticeship in the i)riva- 
teei'S of the Bevolution was Thomas Truxtun, whose 
battles with two Erencli frigates, a ftnv years later, 
won for him imperishable renown.^ We first note 
Truxtun in the 10-gnn ship fii<1c]Kii<1('iic(\ of Bennsyl- 
vania. In 1777 he caphired a shi]) having a cargo of 
sugar. This merchantman was armed with sixteen 
guns, and did not surrender without a stout resist- 
ance. While in the IiKJfjniKloicr Truxtun also cap- 
tur(Ml a brig and a slooj) with cargoes of rum, etc. 
Two years \i\tvv we find him in command of the 
armed ship AiKlrcir (UihJirvU, of ten guns, which craft 
he shortly exchanged for the fine 24-gun ship Mar,^. 
In th(^ latter Truxtun cruised some time in the Brit- 
ish Channel, making a number of prizes which w^ere 
sent into Quiberon Bay, France. 



• See :\raflay'.s History of the Navy, vol. i, i)p. IGO. 105, 17(5, 177-183, 
193-197, 233. 



1781-1782. 



ATTACK ON THE ST. JAMES. 



So great bad been the siu-eess of Captain Truxtuu 
that in 1781 be was intrusted witb tbe perilous task of 
convoying across tbe Atlantic Mr. Barclay, our con- 
sul-general to France. Tbe splendid 20-gun priva- 
teer St. James; baving a complement of one bundred 
men, was placed under bis command, William Jones, 
afterward tbe Secretary of tbe Navy, serving in ber 
as tbird officer. It seems tliat tbe Britisb bad 
h'arned of tbe iH'oi)()sed sailing of Mr. Bar(day for 
France, and being especially 
anxious to intercept bim tbey 
sent out a sloop of war from 
New York for tbe exi)ress 
purpose of capturing bim. 
How accurately informed tbe 
enemy were of our secrc^t 
movements is sbowii by the 
fact tbat tbis sloop of wai* 
fell in witb tbe Sf. ■/(iiiics a 
sbort time after sbe cleared 
land. A severe action was 
immediately begun, wbi<di re- 
sulted in tbe Englisbman 
being forced to baul off, wbile tbe privateer con- 
tinued ber way to Fi'ance. Having successfully 
])erformed tbis hazardous service, Truxtun assumed 
tbe command <d' tbe 14-gun sliip CDtiiiiicnr, witb a 
crew of fifty -men. In December, 17S2, tbe Com- 
iii<Tc<\ wbile at sea, bad an action witb a lii-itisb 
In-ig of sixt(HMi guns and seventy-five men and a 
scboouer of fourte<'n guns and (dgbty uhmi. Xot- 
witlistanding the <lis]>arity of forces, Truxtun pre- 
pared to give battle, and bad been sbarply engaged 
witb one of these vessels for twenty minutes, when 
a frigate hove in sight and com])ell(M] tbe Commerce 
to make all sail to esca])e. In tbis battle tbe Ameri- 
cans bad om^ man killed and two wounded, while the 
loss of tbe I>ritisb is ])laced at fourteen killed and 
twentv-four wounded. 




NAVY OFFICERS IN PRIVATEERS. 



1778-1781. 



Stephen Decatur, Sr., the father of one of the 
heroes of the War of 1812, eoninianded five different 
privateers in tlie Kevolntion. The younger Decatur 
also served in somo of these craft, and received that 
training which in later years <lid so much to make 
our naval officers respected and feared tlie world over. 
The vessels commanded by the elder Decatur were 
the (U)iii(i, Fair Aiiicricdii, UildVinthni, UixUkj Sim, and 
Jioi/dl Louis. It was in the last ship that Decatur 
made his great es1 reputation as a sea warrior. The 
]\<)i/<i1 Louis carried twenty-two guns, and is credited 
with a comi)lemen1 of I wo liundred men — a veritable 

coi'vette. In July, 1781, 
the lioi/dl Louis had a des- 
perate action with the 
IJrilish cruiser .[ctirc, and 
took her only after heavy 
h)ss of life on both sides. 
Tliis was only one of the 
many instances in which 
our ])rivateers attacked 
and ca]>tured the king's 
cruisers.^ For these bril- 
liant services Stephen De- 
catur, Sr., was taken into 
the navy as a cajdain. 

Daniel ^IcNeil, noted 
alike for his eccentricities <»f < haracter and bravery 
as an officer, had the honor, in 1778, while in com- 
uiand of tli(^ 20-gun ])rivateer (Uiicnil Mifflin, to re- 
ceive a salute from the I'remdi admiral at Brest. 
This so offen<led the British ambassador that he 
threatened to leave the country. The (InicraJ Miffiiii 
then made several ca])tures near the British coast, 
one of her prizes being a ship laden with wine. On 
'her homeward passage from France the (jciicral 




' For the suliseqiieiit career of Stephen Decatur, Sr., sec Maclay's 
History of tlie. Navy, vol. i, pp. 105, 1G9, 385. 



1778-1782. WATERS' BRILLIANT CRUISE. SO 

MifP'ui had a severe action with a British i>riva- 
teer of eij^hteeu gnus and eighty men. The English- 
men tinally snrrendered, having had their com- 
mander and twenty-two men killed or injnred. Mc- 
Niell's next command in the privateer servic<> was 
the 10-gnn slii]> I Ij/sscs. In 1782 we tiiid him in com- 
mand of the (>-gnii brig Wa.sp, with a complement of 
twenty men. 

Two other navy olticers who served in privateers 
must be specially noticed, Daniel Waters and (leorge 
Little. Waters, in 177S, commanded the l()-gnn shij) 
Thorn, ill wliich vessel he gave battle to the British 
IG-gnii brig (hn'viiior Tfi/oii, Captain Stebbins, a (lov- 
ernment craft. She had in com]»aiiy the 18-gnn brig 
iS'/r WiUidiii /'JrsJxiiir, Captain Hamilton, another king's 
ship. Wat<'rs had receiv«Ml his commission becanse 
of his extraordinary attack on the British troopship 
Dvfciiffc in 177(1,^ and in the i)resent instance lie 
showed himself to be a privateersman of true mettle. 
He (dosed on both the British 'vess(ds at the 'same 
time, and after a spirited action of two hours com- 
pelled them to snrreiider. Captain Stebbins being 
among the many killed. On his homeward passage 
Waters, after an action of fifty minntes, captnred the 
English ship HiKirlaii, monnting eighteen gnns and 
having a ('oni])lement of ninety-seven men. Just be- 
fore gaining Boston harbor Arith his three prizes. 
Waters had the misfortnne to los<' the Gorcnior 
Tfj/oii, that vessel escaping under cover of niglit. 
The Sir WilJ'uiiii hJr.sliiic and Sparlaii, however, were 
bronght safely into ])ort. 

(i(Mtrge Little, who commanded the liostoii in her 
remarkable action with th<^ l^rencdi corvette />< reran, 
ISOO,- was in (diarge <d' the 13-gnn privateer sloo]) 
Wnithrop during the latter part of the war for inde- 
l)en(lence. In his first cruise in this vessel Little 

' See ]Maclay's History of tlie Navy, vol. i, pj). 49, 50. 
" Ibid., vol. i, PI). 208-213. 
9 



90 



NAVY OFFICERS IN PRIVATEERS. 



1 776-1 78:>. 



(•ai)tiir(Ml two Eiiiilisli privatcMM-s, and soon after cut 
out the l>i-itisli ai-iiicd bi-ii; McfUnu that was Iviug iu 
the PiMiobscot with a prize shx)}). Tlic W'iiitltrop made 
several other coiisiderabh- prizes before the eh)se of 
the war, aiiioiijj, 1 hem b<Mim an S-oiin S( liooner which 
had tirst been (based ashor(\ (''ai)tain LittU' had as 
his tii-st ol'ticci- in the W'iiilJirop Edward Prebh\ who 

afterward took ]>art in onr 
early o|)erations in the Medi- 
terranean. 

Some other navy officers 
who commanded i)rivateers 
in this strui»;['le were David 
Porter, in the Aiin^ni and the 
ncli(llii\ Nicholas Iii<hlle, in 
the (UniuJcii and (Uiki'uI Moitl- 
tr\c\ Dudley Saltonstall, in 
the Mincrra; Charles Alex- 
ander, in th(^ .lc///r and IJH.ki- 
hrlli; lloysted Ha(d<er, in the 
/iiiccdiiccr; John liodji'ers, in 
the (l(ii(r<il i^iiKilhroofl; John 
P>urrou:nlis Hopkins, in the L<( and the Success; 
Sannud Tucker, in the /y/'rr OaJ,- and llioiii; -Tames 
Sever, in the riiilo and the l\<iiiihlcr; and Stephen 
Cassin, in the liisiin/ Sim an<l the \'cii(/c(iiicc. 




THAPTEK VII. 



CArTAIN SILAS TALBOT. 



VvAX privatiMn'snicii of tho Kevoliition had a more 
<listiiii;inslie(l career than Sihis Talbot. Born of 
poor parents in Diiiliton, Massaclmsetts, yonn<;' Tal- 
bot, at the a«i'e of twelve, eniiaiicd in a small eoastin_ij^ 
vessel as a cabin boy, an<l rapidly rose in his profes- 
sion, nntil, in 1772, wIhmi twenty- 
one years old, he had accnninlat(Ml 
enoniih money to bnild for him- 
self a hons(^ in Providence, Klnxh^ 
Island. On June 2S, 1775, he 
was commissioned a ca])tain in 
a Ifhode Island reiiiment com- 
mandcMl by Colonel Hitchcock, 
and took part in the operations 
before Boston whi(di led to the 
evacnation of that ])lace by the 
British, March 17, 177(1. \Vhih» 
on his way to New V<»rk with the 
AnuM'ican ai-my, Talbot stopped 

at New London, at wliicdi ]K)rt Captain Escdv IIo]>- 
kins had just arrived after his sn<-cessfnl expedition 
to the Bahamas. Hopkins a])]die(l to Washinjj,ton 
for two hnndi*ed volunteers to assist his scpiadron 
in reachinin Providenc(% and Talbot was one of the 
first to olfer himself. He proccH'ded in the squadron 
to the desired haven, and then, with his nn^n, rejoined 
the army befoi-e N(nv Yoi-k. 

At that tinu' several tire shi])s were in course of 

91 




Esek Hopkins. 



92 CAPTAIN SILAS TALBOT. 1776. 

constriicticni, which it was hoped wonhl destroy 
some of the vessels of the British fleet then at an- 
chor near New York. When these vessels were 
nearly ready, (''a])tain Talbot and Ensign Thomas, of 
the same regiment — the latter also havinii- been a 
seaman — ai)i>li(Ml for and were placed in command 
of two of these fire craft. When Washington re- 
treated to Harlem Ileiiihts, the I>ritisli fl(H't mov(Ml 
np llndson Kiver, the Amc^rican fire ships kc('}>in_ii;- 
jnst ahead of them and ancliorini;- above Fort Wash- 
ington. Here they remained three days, when Tal- 
bot received a letter from Major Anderson direct- 
ing him t<> take the first opportnnity to destroy 
the British vessids with his fire ships. Abont this 
time three of the enemy's vessels ancdiorcd seven 
miles above the city, Avith the view of tnrning the 
right wing of the American army. 

The folloAving night i)roving fair, (''ai)tain Talbot, 
abont tw(> o'( lock in the morning, w<dghed anchor, 
and, standing toward one of the shij)s, s])read frc^sh 
priming on all the trains leading to the fire barnds 
and sprinkled qnantities of tnrpiMitine over Hie com- 
bnstible material that had l)een ])1;ic(m1 aboard. It 
was intended to set fii-e to Hie mass from Hk^ cabin, 
bnt in order that the fiamcs might spread more 
readily Talbot prevailed n]H>n one of Ids nuMi, named 
Priestly — an expert swimmer — to lie down on the 
forecastle with a lighted niatcli so as to fire the 
trains the instant they fouled the enemy's ship. 
Selecting the largest of the three ships, the fH-gim 
ship of the line Asia, Talbot avaihMl liimself of the 
darkest honr, jnst before daylight, and moved <li- 
rectly n])on lier. The T^ritish were fonnd to be on 
the alert, and wlien the a])]>roa(diing fir<^ shi]> was 
still some distance (df a bey aboai-d tlie d.s'/'f/ disc(tv- 
ered her and gave the alarm. Tlu^ enemy prom]>tly 
o]tened a r;ii>i<l fire, and, althongh several shots 
])asse(l throngli the tire slii]>, no serious damage was 
done. In a f<'W minnt(\s the vessels fouled, mat(dies 



1776. 



ATTEMPT ON THE ASIA. 



93 



were applied to the fore and aft trains at the same 
instant, and so rapid was the proi;ress of the flames 
that thev bnrst forth from all sides, while Talbot 
himself was compelled to grope aronnd in the lire 
and received severe bnrns before he f(mnd the sally 
port thronii'li whi(di he and his men were to escape. 
The brave Trii^stly, who had nndertaken the peril- 
ous task of _i;ivin,n' direct tire to 
the trains, was comixdhMl to 
jump overboard, but Avas rescued 
by the boat. 

The greatest confusion pre- 
vailed aboard the Asia, (luns 
were fired while boats from the 
other British war craft i>ut off to 
her assistance and to intercept 
the daring- adventunn's. The 
brilliant flames from the fire 
shi}) soou illuminated the river 
for miles, rendering the little 
boat containinii' the Anu'ricans 
a fair tariii^t. All the Eniilish ships opened on her 
with round and i>rape shot, but owinji' to th<' excite- 
ment of the moment only tw(t small shot passed 
throuiih the frail craft. After ^reat effcn-fs the Brit- 
ish succeeded in extiu^uishiuL!,' the flames, but the 
enterprise had made sm h an impression upon their 
commanders that they immediately slipped their 
cables, and, fallinii' down the river, anidiored below 
New York. Captain Talbot and his men reached 
the Jersey shore in safety, but he was so buriUMl and 
blistered by the tire as to be blinded, and his nu'U led 
him through the woods to English Neighborhood. 
" Ac<'ommodations were solicited for him there at 
several houses, but to no pui*]>ose, the people alleg- 
ing generally that his a])])earance was so horrible 
he would fi'ighten their childi'cn. At last a poor 
widow who lived in a small log hut that had but 
one room in it took him in, where he was laid on the 




'^/^ 



94 



CAPTAIN SILAS TALBOT. 1777-177S. 



lloor and covered witli a blauket, and his \h)ov hostess 
procured for him every consolation in her power. 
But in the course of the day General Knox and Dr. 
Enstis, passing that way and hearini;' of his distress- 
inj;- situation — for he was at that time deprived of 
his siji'ht — they called in to see him, and the doctor 
gave dircM-tions for liis more pro])er treatment. 
AAlien the cai)tain was a little recovered he left this 
poor but hospitable abode and went to Ilackensack, 
wluM-e he remained till he Avas able to join his regi- 
ment." ' I''or this gallant affair Congress ])romot(Ml 
Talbot to the rank of major. Ensign Thomas 
brought his tire shi]) alongside a British tender of 
fourteen guns in Tappan I>ay and destroyed her, but 
the gallant officer himself perished in the flames of 
his vessel. 

In the liritish attack on Fort Mil^lin in Novem- 
ber, 1777, Avhere Talbot was stationed, he received 
a niusk(4 ball through his left wrist. Notwithstand- 
ing the excruciating i)ain, he continued at his ])ost 
with a handkerchief tied round the injured ])art. 
Soon afterward a ball pen(4rated his hip, and, being 
totally disabliMl, Talbot was placed in a boat and 
transferred to lied Baidv, and tluMice to the hos])ital 
at Princeton, deceiving p<M*mission from (JencM'al 
Washington to return to his honu^ in Kliode Island 
until his wounds were healed, Talbot ])roceeded to 
Providence. 

In the campaign of 177S a French tl<M^t, under 
Count <rEs1aing, ai>i»eare<l on the Amei'ican coast, 
and an ex]H'dition was j)lanued to drive the l^ritish 
(»ut of Kliode Island. In this effort thc^ Americans 
were command(Ml by (leneral Sullivan, while the 
English garrison was undei' the (trders of Sir IJobert 
Pigot. The tirst step to be taken by the Ann^ricans 
was to construct a large number of flat-bottom boats, 
in whi(di the army could be transferred from the 



' Cjiritat's Life of Silas Tallx.t. 



177S. CAPTUKE OF BRITISH ARTILLERYMEN. 95 

mainland to Kliodc Island. ]Majt>r Tallxd was or- 
dered to superintend this work, and in a short time 
had eighty-six boats in readiness, sixteen of whieh 
were built in one day, and calked by candhdight 
in an open field the following night. " .Major Tal- 
bot, by the middle of tho night, put everything 
in train for having all ready by the next morning; 
and then, being worn out with fatigue and want 
of rest for sevt^ral days, laid down under oiu' of the 
boats, that the dew might not fall ui)on him, and 
slept soundly, not wit listanding the calkors worked 
over his head part of tlu^ tim<' to finish the boat." ^ 
The embarkation of the American army began Au- 
gust Utli, an<l on gaining tlic island began its mai'ch 
southward toward the British garrison at Newport. 
Being ordered to ride ahead so as to reconnoiter, 
our gallant major came in sight of tlu' enemy's fort, 
when he discovered three British artillerymen in a 
garden foraging. He lea])ed his horse over the wall 
and threatened the men with instant death if they 
attempted to move. The s(ddiers, mistaking Talbot 
for a T^ritish ofiicer, began apologizing for their ab- 
senc(^ from the fort, and begged that they might not 
be punished, (li]>lomatically offering to share their 
forage with him. Taking their sid<^ arms, Talbot 
marched them u]) the road before him into tlu^ 
American lines. 

Owing to the failure of tln^ Fn^ich fieet to co- 
o])erate with the Americans, the attack on New])ort 
was not made, and on August 2Stli our army began 
its retreat to the mainland. When tlu^ I'^rench shi])S 
first a])])eared off Xew])ort, July 2r)th, tin' English 
burned several of tlieir men-of-wnr and s;iid< the 
frigate lloni, at that time heaved down on the bea<di 
for cleaning. This step opened to the Americans the 
water ])assages on each side of Bhode Island, which 
were of inestimable advantage. With a view of 

1 Ciiritat's I.ilV of Silas Talliot. 



'.)<> 



CAPTAIN SILAS TALBOT. 



1 77«S. 



iiij,aiii closing" 11i(>s(» clKniiiels, the British, after the 
(le]»artiire of the I-'reiich vessels for Boston, coii- 
vei't(Ml a stout bi'ii;- of some two Imndred tons into a 
galley. Her upper deck was removed, and on the 

lower deck (Hglit 
12- pounders from 
the Flora were 
mounted, besides 
ten swivels, and 
being provided 
with strong board- 
ing nettings, and 
manned by forty- 
five men, she be- 
came a formidable 
auxiliary to the 
British land forces. 
This craft, named 
in honor of the 
British comman<I- 
ing general, Sir 
Robert Pi got, was 
placed in charge 
of Lieutenant Dun- 
lop, of the British 
navy, and on tak- 
ing a station in the 
eastern passage 
succeeded in com- 
pletely intei-ru]>tiug the important commerce carried 
on through that chauiud. 

Determined to captui-e oi' di^stroy this miscdiie- 
vous vessel, Talbot early in Octolx^r obtained (len- 
eral Sullivan's i)ermissi(»n to tit out a craft and <-all 
for volunteers. Tlu^ small coasting sidiooner Ilairl; of 
seventy tons, was secured, and in two days was pre- 
]>are(l for th<' eutei'prise with two 8-pounders and 
sixty men under Talbot, Lieut(Muint Bakei* being sec- 
ond in command. These daring men promi)tly made 




1778. FITTING OUT THE HAWK. 97 

wail, and had proctMMled aboul eiiilit miles below 
Providence when the wind faihMl, so that they were 
obliged to remain at ancdior all that uiinht and the 
following day. In <n-der to reacdi the J*ifi<)t, Talbot 
was compelled to rim past two British earthworks, 
one of which was erected on the sonth side of the 
passage at Bristol Ferry, while the other was on the 
west side of Fogland Ferry. The channel opposite 
these batteries is abont three qnarters of a mile 
wide. 

On the following night Talbot, favored with a 
good breeze, got nnder way, and by keeping as near 
as possible to the opposite shore passed the fort at 
Bristol Ferry. He was discovered and fired npon, 
but fortunately all the enemy's missiles fell wide of 
the Tfdirl-, and she ran abont six miles np Taunton 
River, anchoring on the west side of ^Nfount Hope 
Bay, some fifteen miles from the Pif/ot, Ww direction 
of the wind at that time rendering it im])racticable 
to approach Fogland Ferry. As the brcM'ze failed to 
serve (►n the following morning, Talbot, leaving 
Baker in charge of the II<iirh\ ])roce(Mled in his boat 
to the east side of Sakonnet liiver. He huuh^l alone, 
and securing a horse rode down the shore to a point 
opi^osite the galh^v, where with a good glass he re- 
connoitered her at his leisure. This intrepid officer 
soon discovered that she was a far more formidable 
craft than he had been led to believe, her boarding 
nettings being very high, and were carricMl entirely 
around, making it exceeding difficult to take her by 
boarding — the main reliance of the Americans in the 
])ro])osed attack. Yet, in si)ite of the unexpected 
difficulties involved in the attem])t, Talbot deter- 
mined to move against the Pif/of that evening. Re- 
turning to the /f<nrl\ he asked for and receive<l from 
Brigadier-(reneral Cornell a reenforcement of fif- 
teen men under Lieutenant Helm, of Rhode Island. 
WIk'U the men liad got aboard, ^Nlajor Talbot called 
all hands, and for the first time fully explained his 



98 



CAPTAIN SILAS TALBOT. 



177S. 



])linis for lakiiijj, I lie l'i</(>l, ((HicliKliiiii' his rciiiarks 
with ail cxliortat i(»ii, iiri;iiiii the men to kccj) cool, 
and iiiaUiiiii" a ('oiisi(h^i'abl(' personal reward for the 
mail who first gained the iialh^v's deck. Tlie men 
res])onded to tlie harangue with (dieers, and proinpt- 
Iv at nine o'l lock Ihe Ihtirk o'ot nnder way and pro- 
ceeded down t he river. 

ill niakin.u his i)rei)arations for the attack, Talbot 
showed true ^'ankee in<;ennity bv bishinm' a kedi^-e 
amdior fast to tlie end of his jib boom, so that when 
the II (I irk ran against the riijol tlie kedn'e would tear 
a wide chasm in the m^tinus. A grapnel Jilso was 
held in readiness to throw aboard the enemy so as 
to h(dd the vessels tojLicther. As the Americans 
approached tlM' fort at I'ouland l'\M-ry, Talbot low- 
ered his sails so that the Ihtirk would drift j)ast 
undei- bai-e ]>oles, thercdiy reducinii the thances of 
discovery. On the succ<'ssfnl ]>assa_ii(' of this fort nn- 
discovere<l lar,ii(dy depended tln^ ultimate success of 
the enter]»rise; for the Piijot lay only four miles be- 
low, near l>lack Toint, and would have been warned 
of the a]»])roachini; daniicr by the sound of iiuns. 
So onward in the darkness lilided the silent Ihiirk, 
with every sound hushed and every liiiht carefully 
screened, and thounh she drew so near the eartli- 
\Norks as to <'nable her jM'ople to clearly distinguish 
the sentimds every time they ])assed the li;Lilit at the 
window (d" the barrack she continued on her way 
do^^■n st ream undetecte<l. 

Ilaviui; safely passed the fort, Talbot a.iiain set 
his sails, and stood swiftly do>\'n the river with all 
hands at (piarters. <)A\iu!4 to a ]>ossible o^■eran.\iety 
Talbot did not i;ain a \iew of the Pujol as soon as 
he had e.\i>ecled, and, fearing; that he had passed her 
in the darkness, he came to anchor, and, licttiinj,' into 
his boat, ]iulled \\\\\\ mut'Hed oars do\\'n the stream 
and went in search of his enemy. He had not jiro- 
c(mm1(m1 far when tlu^ galley smhbMily loomed up 
directly ahead. To make absolutely sure of suecess 



1778. THE AISIERICANS BOARD. 9*) 

this (liscHM't officer, instead of exhibit iuc; nncluo 
haste by pnllin*; iniinediately baclv to liis craft, 
moved closer to tlie fi^/ot, and haviuj^- satistied him- 
self as to how sli<^ rode with the tide and wind, re- 
turned to the Hiurlx. (Jettiuji' his schooner under Avay 
a<»aiu, Talbot bore directly- down on the "alley. Soon 
her dark outlines were distin,uuished in the sur- 
rounding' n'loom, and almost at the same instant a 
challen<>e was heard across tlu^ water. The hail was 
rejx^ated several times, and as no answer was mad(^ 
a small volley of musketry was d(divered at tlu^ 
AnuM'icans, which occasioned little or no injury, as 
the crew had been ordered to lie down behind the bul- 
warks. 

Kefori^ the British could <lischar_n'e a, sini»l(^ can- 
non the IfdirJ: had fouled them, the kedii'e teariui;- a 
iLireat hole in the boardinj; m-ttiniis, wliib^ the ji^rap- 
nel, beinji pr(»m]>tly swuni;' aboard, held the two craft 
tojiether. The Americans then rose, and, <i,ivin_u; a 
volley of small arms, followed Lieutc^iant Helm's 
lead in boardiuii' the ii'alley. In a short time every 
Eni^iishman was driven below exce])tin,ii their i^al- 
lant commander, Lieutenant I)unlo]t, who appeared 
on de(dv in his underclothiuii, and be_f;an prepara- 
tions for a desperate resistance. He was soon over- 
powered, however, and when informed that his craft 
had been taken by a small slooi> carrying only two 
3-l)ounders, manned excdusively by S(ddiers — though 
many of them had l)een seamen — bnrst into tears, 
sayinj^' that he '' fancied himself to stand as fair for 
])romotion as any lieutenant in the navy, but thai 
now all those agreeable hopes were swe]>t away." 
.Major Talbot, in a magnanimous spii-it, endeav- 
ored to console the crestfallen officer. Ilavinm- as- 
certained that not a man on eitliei' side had been 
killed, Talbot sent his prisoners below, where they 
wei-e s<MUi'ed by coilini;' tlu^ cables over the 12,1'at- 
injis, and, liettinjj," both vessels under way, ran into 
Stoiiin^jon that (n'euinii, where the ])risoners were 

L.ofC. 



llMI 



CAPTAIN SILAS TALBOT. 1778. 



Iniulcd and iiianluMl lo Providence on the follow- 
in<j;' day. 

'' The o()od effects resnltin^' from this well- 
planned and bravely execnted enterprise," said a 
contemporary writer, " were nnmerons and exten- 
sive. The spirit of the pe<)i»lo, wliich by the failnre 
of the late attempt on the Eni^lisli garrison at New- 
l>ort had been <;i"eatly dei)i'essed, was raised, and 
the intercourse by sea, which, to the immense preju- 
dice of this i»art <»f the country, had loni;- been shut 
up, was now opened.'" For this handsome exploit 
Con<;ress i)romote(l Talbot to the rank of lieutenant 
colonel, wliih' the (ieneral AsscMubly of Khode Island 
presented both Talbot and Ibdm with a sword. 

Stimulated by liis successes ajiainst the Asia and 
Pif/ot, Talbot soon formed a i)lan for destroying the 
50-gun shi]) Uinoirji, whicli the enemy, late in 1778, 
stationed off' liliode Island. An old, high-sided mer- 
chant ship, of about four hundred tons, was carried 
down tlie river a few miles below Providence, and a 
stag<' was built on her deck, as if for carrying cattle. 
" Tliis stage was calculated to be about seven feet 
higher above the surface of the water than the up- 
per tier of guns in the Jiciioini, and was s])read out 
over the sides in order to facilitate boarding when 
tlie two vessels lay (dose togi^tluM', and its height 
would not only enable the men to command the 
decks of the enemy, but place them above the 
fire of tludr guns. To drive the enemy from their 
up]»er decks, the colonel ])rovided a great number of 
stout earthen ])ots, eacdi of which held three pounds 
of dry gun])owder and tliree hand grenades ready 
<'harged. These fire pots Avere securcdy (dosed, and, 
then, to preserv(^ them from any accidental W(4, cov- 
ered with shee]) or lamb skin, with the wool on the 
outside. Over all w(n'e laid two pieces of slow match 
that were so long that when lashed on with a cord 
made a handle to h(dd it by, while the ends of the 
mat( h hung below the ])ot as nnndi as twelve inches. 



1778. ATTEMPT AGAINST A FRIGATE. lol 

By repeated experiments tlie eolonel foniid thnt any 
man of eoniniou strength conld throw these pots 
to a distance of forty feet witli considerable cer- 
tainty. Their fall on the deck would infallibly break 
them and scatter the contents, when the fire of the 
slow match wonid c<unnninicate with the loose pow- 
der, and in an instant with the ^renades. It was the 
colonel's desiiin, in real action, to station one hun- 
dre<l men in a convenient part of his ship with one 
of tlies(^ fire pots in each hand. He conceived that 
the explosion on the enemy's decks of two hundred 
pcds, conlaininii' to<»etlier six hundred pounds of dry 
powder, and the successive burstin,!;- of six hundred 
hand lirenades, would in the uioht, when assisted 
by mnskelry fire from two hundred men and the 
shouts and huzzas of all, produce a terrible scene 
of destruction and alai-m at the first outset, drive 
the enemy from their quarters, so that the board- 
in<>- party might, without great difficulty, succeed 
in getting possession of the quarter-deck of the man- 
of-war." ^ Talbot also counted on, as a consi(ha*able 
item in the success of this enterprise, the reported 
lack of discipline aboard the Rciioini, he having 
learned from some prisoners who had been detained 
aboard this craft that her officers were es])ecially 
negligent at night. On the evening selected for the 
attempt, Hic American vessel dropped six miles far- 
ther down Ihe river, while a body of nearly four hun- 
dred men marcdied along the shore, abreast of her, 
ready 1o embark and take part in the att(Mn])t when 
all was ready. ITnfortunatidy for the projectors 
of this daring S(dieme, the weather that night sud- 
denly came on vinw cold, the ice forming so rapidly 
in the river as to ])revent the land force from getting 
aboard, and when morning dawned it was found that 
the river was frozen over, holding both the Ixciioini 
and the mercliantman immovable all that winter. 

1 Caritat's Life of Silas Talbot. 



1,1^ CAPTAIN SILAS TALBOT. 1778-1779. 

To u'liaid aiiiiiiist any attack on the Rcitoint over the 
ice, th(^ British ])lace<l a lar,ue detachnient of sohliers 
aboard her. When naviii'ation o])ene<l in the spring 
the Nciioini was or^h^red from this station, her place 
being taken by a 44-gun sliip, which anchored under 
the gnns of the fort in Newport harbor. The fact 
of this A-essel being ancliored in a safer place in- 
duced Talbot to make an attcMupt npon her, as lie 
reasoned that her people would be less vigilant than 
when stationed farther up the river. This euter- 
])rising ofHcer again prepared the old merchantman, 
and with three hundre<l Jind fifty volunteers moved 
<lown Providence Kiver. Unfortunately the pilot 
ran the ship hard-and-fast aground, ami as she could 
not be tloated again until the enemy would have been 
warned of the danger Talbot was obliged to return. 
Observing the great success of privateers fitted 
out by the rcbcdling coloiusts, a number of Tories in 
Now York transf(n'med some of their mercdiantmen 
in that ]»ort into private ci'uisers and sent tluMu out 
to ])]•('}■ on the coastwise tra<le, with the result that 
in a short tiuK^ American comnu'rce in the vicinity 
of N<'W York was almost anniliilat(Ml. This was espe- 
cially the case in Long Island Sound and in the 
waters of liliode Island. The efl'cct of this Tory pri- 
vat<M'ring, aided by the regular cruisers of the T^oyal 
Navy, was so injurious to the American cause that 
(reneral (Jates, connnan<ling the Continental army 
in the northern department, reported to Washing- 
ton that it \\as almost impossible to S(M-ure provi- 
sions. At ^^'ashington's suggestion (Jatcs ])repar(Hl 
the ca])tured Pif/ot as a coast guard, while the little 
sloop l/v/o, of one hundred tons, was fitted with 
tw(dv(' (»-])()unders, and being ]daced under the com- 
mand of Coloind Talbot, with sixty volunt<MM'S from 
the army — most of whom had been seamen — sailed 
from Pi'ovid(Mice, in May, 1779, to cruise after the 
mischievous Tories. The . 1 r</o '' Avas steered with 
a h)ng tiller, but ha<l no \vhe(d; had a high bulkhead. 



irrn. the argo-king george action. lo;] 

Her l)ulwarl<s also were very liijih. She liad a wide 
st(M'n, and her a])pearaiice altoi^etlKT was like a 
clumsy Albany sloo])." ^ Proceedinji' romid the east 
end of Long' Island, Talbot fell in with the priyateer 
Lircli/, Captain Stout, of New York, mounting twelye 
(>-])ounders. This craft was made out early in the 
morning, the .Irr/o promi)tly giying clias(\ Aft(M' 
a hard run of five hours, in which the Tory made 
eyery effort to avoid a hght, Talbot succeeded in get- 
ting up with her and compelled her to strike. She 
was sent into ])oi't. Three or four days after this 
the .\r</<> sighted two English ]>]'ivat(MM'S, whiih 
]»i'oved to be from the AVest Indies, heavily laden 
an<l bound for New York. Both of them surrendered 
after the Americans were fairly alongside, and prize 
crews being thrown aboar<l they were carried into 
Boston. 

Not only were the Tories in New York active in 
fitting out ])rivate(M's, but those in Newi)ort also 
sent out the stout brig Kin;/ (horf/c, (''a])tain Hazard, 
mounting foui-teen (l-]»ounders and manned by eighty 
men. As this craft liailcMl from his native State, and 
had tak(Mi many American vessels, Talbot naturally 
was anxious to iiuM't her, though he knew that she 
was more formidable than the sloop he comnuuKhMl. 
'M'a]>tain Hazard Avas a native of Rhode Island, and 
had IxM'U universally esteenu'd till he took connuand 
of this ])rivateer for the base i)ur])ose of ])lundering 
liis neighbors and old friends. A\'henever the . ! rvo 
went (Hit from Brovidence, Stonington, New London, 
or any other ]>ort in that (juart^^r, where she occa- 
sionally ran in for the night, it was the common 
wish of the inhabitants that she might take or sink 
Captain Hazard." - 

ra]>tain Talbot soon had the satisfaction of grati- 
fying this i)atriotic desire of the New Englanih^rs; 
for on his second cruise, when about one humlred 



' r.-uitnt's Life (.r Sil;is T;tl!)(>t. 2 Ibid. 



104 



CAPTAIN SILAS TALBOT. 



1779. 



and twenty miles sonth of Lonj;- Island, the day 
beino- exceptional, Ix'antifnl and calm, a vessel was 
si.niittMl abont noon, whi<di was discovered to be the 
KiiKj (U(n-(i<\ The vesstds iivadnally approached each 
other, and wIumi within a short distance Talbot 
hailed, an<l to his «ireat pleasure fonnd his hail an- 
swered by Captain Hazard in i)erson. The Ar(jo was 
promptly rnn aloni^side, and, deliveriiii;- their broad- 
side, the Americans boarded, and soon drove their 




SCENE OF 

CAPTAIN TALBOT'S CRUISES 

SCALE OF STATUTE MILES 



enemies bcdow, not a man on either side being killed. 
Placing a prize <'rew aboard the Khui (Jcorf/c, Talbot 
ordered her into New Tjondon, where she arrived 
amid the (dieers of the i»o])nlation — ''even the 
women, both old and young, ex|)i'( ss(m1 the greatest 
joy." Soon after this m<tst gratifying success the 
Avf/o seized an American ]»rivateer whi<di was in the 
hands of a IJritish crew and sent her into New Bed- 



1779. ACTION WITH THE DRAGON. 105 

ford. In the same cruise Talbot captured the Brit- 
ish merchant brig Elliott, from Loudon for New 
Yorli, mounting- six guns, and sent her into New 
London. She had a valuable cargo of dry goods and 
provisions. 

This "army privateer'' had -now taken five ves- 
sels without serious fighting. Talbot had developed 
his crew to Ihe highest state of efficiency, and they 
were anxious to test their mettle against that of a 
worthy foe. Early one morning in August, when the 
sloop was at sea, a sail was discovered, which soon 
gave promise of a struggle. She was quickly made 
out to be a large shi]), armed and full of men. As 
the stranger showed no disposition to avoid the Arc/o, 
the two craft were soon within gunshot of each 
other, the Americans at their cannon ready for ac- 
tion. After ex<dianging hails, and finding that they 
were enemies, both vessels opened an animated fire 
from their guns. The battle was fought within pis- 
tol shot, and lasted four hours and a half. At one 
time the speaking trumpet which Colonel Talbot 
lield to his mouth was pierced by shot in two places, 
and about the same time a cannon ball took off the 
skirt of his coat. Evidently" the Arf/o was getting 
a real taste of a sea fight, for after the action had 
lasted several liours nearly all the men stationed on 
her quarter-deck w(n'e killed or wounded. Talbot 
])luckily continued the figlit, notwithstanding his 
sin'ere losses, and finally had the satisfaction of ob- 
serving his o]q)ou('nt's mainmast fall. Uj»on this 
Ihe EnglishnuMi surrendered and announced their 
shi]) to be th(^ privateer Dnnjou, of three hundred 
tons, mounting fourteen (l-pounders and manned by 
eighty men. 

Just as the enemy's colors came down Talbot was 
informed by one of his officers who had been sta- 
tioned in the magazine below that the Avfio was 
sinking, the water in her hold having reached the 
gun deck. At this alarming r(q)ort Talbot promptly 
10 



IQQ CAPTAIN SILAS TALBOT. 1779. 

ordered the sides of his sloop to be inspected, be- 
lieviiit;" the cunse of the inrnshini;' waters to be 
shot lioh^s. His snrinise proved to be correct, and 
in a short time men were s\Ynn<i- over the sides, Avho 
pliiii.Hcd tlie hides, aft<'r whiidi all hands manned the 
pnnips and sncceeded in ( learini;- the sloop of water. 
The hnKjoii was then maniunl and sent into New 
Bedford. 

Scarcely ha<l the American re]>aired damages 
when anotlier sail was re])orted. This was the Eng- 
lish privateer brig IhiiiiKiJi, of two hnndred tons, 
armed with twelve 12-ponnders and tw(» 0-ponnders. 
Although a vessel twice the size and force of the 
Ar(/(), ('(domd Talbot did not hesitate to attack her. 
Soon after the action began the American priva- 
te(n' M(ic(i)(nii, ("upt'd'iw D. Keybold, of Pcninsylvania, 
a brig cd' six gnns and twenty men, drew near, npon 
which the l/diiiKili surivndered. She was sent into 
New Bedford in coni]»any with the DrtK/oii. " When 
th<' Ari/o retni'iied lo jtort with these last ]»rizes'slie 
was so mncdi shivered in her hull and rigging by the 
shot whi(di had pierced her in the last two engage- 
nuMits that all who b(di(dd her were astonished that a 
vess(d of her diminutive size could suffer so nnndi and 
yet get safely to ])ort. The c(uintry ])eople came 
down from a considei*able distance, only to sch' C^ap- 
tain Talbot and his ])rizes and to count the shot 
marks about the A) </<>."' ^ On Se]»tember 17, 1779, 
Cougress gave Talbot a coiumission as captain in 
the navy, and further de( tared tliat his ])i\y as lien- 
tenant colon(d should continue until lu^ could be eni- 
ployiMl by the mai-ine coiumittee. 

After refitting, the Aif/o put to sea, and, skirting 
the southern coast (d' Long Island, appeared off 
Sandy Hook, where she fell in. with the privateer 
S<inil<>(i(i, Cajdain ^Iuni'o(\ of Providence. While 
these two vessels were cruising in company off this 

' A eonteinpoi'iiry ticcount. 



1779. CAPTURE OF THE DUBLIN. 107 

port, on a clear mooiilii»lit nigiit, the English priva- 
teer Duhliii, Captain Fagan, fitted out by the Tories 
in New York, was discovered coming out. After a 
short consultation between the American command- 
ers, it was agreed that, in order to induce the DiiJtlin 
to give battle, the little Aff/o should boldly approach 
Sandy IIo(dc and (diallenge the Tories to action, the 
Diihrui carrying two more guns tlian tlie Kliode 
Ishmd sloop. In accordance with this programme, 
Talbot stood (dose in, and, after exchanging hails 
with ra]>tain Fagan, engaged him in a spiritinl light. 
For two liours tlie crews fouglit with great deter- 
mination, the Americans w<tndering greatly' at tlie 
failure of their consort, the Xnrdlond, to come up to 
their assistance as agreed upon. This circumstance 
is explained as follows: 

'' The Sdratof/d was steered with a long wooden 
tiller on common occasions, but in time of action 
the wooden tiller was unshi]>p<Ml and put out of the 
way, and slu^ was then st<Mn'ed with an iron one 
that was shipjted into the rudder head from the 
cal)in. In the hurry of preparing for battle, this 
iron tiller had been shove<l into the opening of the 
rudd(M' case, but had not entercMl its mortise in the 
rudder head at all, and the k^arafof/a went away 
with the wind at a smart rate, to the surprise of 
ra])tain Talbot and the still greater surprise of Cap- 
tain ^lunroe, who repeatedly calhMl to the helms- 
man: 

" ' Hard a-weather, hard up there! ' 

" ' It is hard u]>, sir.' 

" ' You lie, you blackguard! She goes away lask- 
ing. Hard a-wcathcr, I say again.' 

"■ ' It is hai-d a-weatlier, iud(HMl, sir,' was the only 
re])ly tlu^ helmsman could make. 

" Ca])taiu Munroe was astonished, and could not 
conceive ' what the devil was the matter with his 
vessel.' He took in the aft(^]'-sails and made all 
the lieadsail in his power. ' All ' would not do, and 



IQ^ CAPTAIN SILAS TALBOT. 1779. 

away she went. He was in the utmost vexation lest 
Captain Talbot slionld think him actnally running 
away. At last one of his nnder officers sningested 
that possibly the iron tiller had not entered the rud- 
der head, which on examinatii>n was found to be 
the case. The blunder was soon corrected, and the 
S!(ifai()(/a was made to stand toward the enemy; and 
that some satisfaction mi<;ht be made for his long 
absence Captain Munroe determined, as soon as he 
got up, to give them a whole broadside at once. He 
did so, and the Diihliii immediately struck her 
colors." ^ The ]»rivateers carried their prize into Egg 
Harbor. The day following the capture of the Duh- 
Jiii th(^ Ar</() seized the British merchant brig Chance, 
from London for New York, laden with a valuable 
cargo of stores for the English army. She was of 
about two hundred tons, and was carried into Egg 
Harbor. 

A few days after this successful cruise the boy 
at th(^ .l/v/o\s mastliead re])orted a ship on the hori- 
zon. Tliis was about ten o'clock in tlie morning, and, 
it being a cleai' day, the stranger was a great dis- 
tanc(^ off when first noticed. Talbot made all sail in 
chase of the shi]), wlien, discovering the sloop, the 
stranger mad*^ every effort to get away. All that 
day the i)ursuit was maintained, and by nightfall 
the Americans liad gained only slightly. A clear 
niglit enabled the .I/7/0 to keep the stranger in sight, 
;!n<l early on the following morning she had her 
wifliiu long gunshot. Talb<>t now believed that she 
was a large transi)ort boun<l for the West Indies, 
and, as he could not discover any guns or gun ports, 
he was extremely anxious to get u]> to Ikm*. The 
stranger was running dead before the wind, which 
was her best point of sailing, but about ten o'clock 
the wind died away. Being within gunshot the 
Americans made every ])reparation for battle, the 



1 C'aritat's Life of Silas Talbot. 



1779. A NARROW ESCAPE. lO'.) 

stranger all the time keeping her stern toward her 
pursuer, so that it was impossible to ascertain her 
force. 

Just as the A/7/0 was getting ready to open fire, 
the people in the chase were observed getting out 
their sweeps, and in a few minutes they had brought 
their broadside to bear, and to the astonishment of 
the Americans the stranger ran out thirty guns and 
delivered a terrific broadside. The little Argo had 
been chasing a ship of the line, and was now be- 
calmed under her guns! Captain Talbot promptly 
set all hands at his sweeps. Fortunately the Eng- 
lishmen fired with more haste than accuracy, though 
several of their shots hulled the sloop, killing one 
of the crew and wounding another in his right arm. 
By great exertions the Americans gradually worked 
their sloop to a position on the Englislimairs quarter, 
and in the c(Kirse of sev(M'al hours managcMl to get 
beyond the reacdi <d' his gnus, when the Americans, 
utterly exhausted, threw themselves on the deck and 
rested. Soon afterward a breeze sprang up and the 
Avf/o effected her esca])e. The stranger prov(Ml to be 
the I\(iisoii(ih](\ wliich had been sent from New York 
with all possible speed to join the liritish li(M't in 
the West Indies. Had it not been foi' this circum- 
stance, the RdisoiKihlc might have captured the Ait/o. 
One of the English shots, a o2-pounder, penetrated 
the .\r(j()\s bulwark, smashed a boat, and sjx'ut itself 
on the deck. 

Early in September, shortly after his adventure 
with the ship of the line, Captain Talbot discovered 
a sail standing toward him whicdi was believed to 
be a British privateer. Soon the sail was made out 
to be a brig of considerable force, apparently using 
her utmost endeavor to overhaul the little sloop. 
Talbot allowed her to a]»|)ron<di within pistol shot, 
when he exchanged hails. The brig then showed 
English colors, upon which Talbot displayed the 
Stars and Strijies, calling out: 



no CAPTAIN SILAS TALBOT. 1779. 

'^ Voii iiiiist now linul down tlione British colors, 
my friend." 

The cominandcn' of tlie brii;', a Seot(dinian, coolly 
replied with a (lii2,nitv and elaborateness worthy of 
a Chesterfield: 

'' Notwithstanding' I find yon an enemy, as I sns- 
pected, yet, sir, I believe I shall let them han<;- a 
little bit Ioniser — witli yonr permission — so fire away. 
Plana ij,an." 

This was the signal for both vesscds to open, and 
for nearly an hour a spii-ited cannonade was niain- 
tain(Ml, when the i^cotchman, havini;- all of his offi- 
cers and many of his men killed or wonnded, sur- 
rendered. TIk' \)v\ix was tlie Hctsri/, a privateer 
}>ierced for sixteen liuns, bnt nKUintinii' oidy tw(dve 
()-ponnders, with a crcnv of tliii'ty-einht nuMi. She 
was bonnd for Xew ^'ork, and ha<l on boar<l two hun- 
dred and fourteen ])uncheons of rum. Shortly after 
this Talbot cai)ture(l a slooj) from X(^w l*rovidence 
for New York, with a cari^o of stores for tlic^ liritish 
army. 

When Captain Talbot retni'ned to Providence 
after this cruise he found orders awaitinji;' him there 
from Conjiress to surr(Mid<M' the Irf/o to her own(M% 
Ni( holas LoA\', of New ^'ork. The sloop, when first 
fitted up as an " army ]>rivateer,*' belonii'ed to ^Ir. 
Low, who, beinu in New York at the lime, could not 
be reached l)y the American authorities, aud the 
sloop was seized without his permission. This little 
vessel had taken, while under Talbot's command, 
tw(dve prizes, and had rendei*<Ml inestimable service 
to th(^ American cause, not only in I'iddinii,' tlie south- 
ern i)art of the XeAV Enij,land coast of Tory priva- 
te(M-s and in takinjn" valuable i>rizes, with three hun- 
dred ]»risoners, but in o])enin!:i' navigation so that 
the army under (Jeneral Cates could i-cM-eive much- 
needed su])])lies. 

After his relinquishment of tlie command of the 
.{)'(/<) every eifoi't was made by the anthorities to 



1780-1782. LOSS OP THE GENERAL WASHINGTON. m 

sociire another vessel for this successful privateers- 
man. In the sninnier of 1780 the private cruiser 
(tciicrdJ \]'(t.sliiii(/l()ii, of Providence, inonntinjT; twenty 
(J-jxninders and manned hy one hundred and twenty 
men, was fitted out and ]»laced niuh^r Tallxd's orders. 
In Ids first cruise in this formidable vessel Talbot 
ca])tnre(l a valuabh' merchantman from Charleston 
foi' Ijondon, wlucdi was sent into Boston. Afterward 
h(^ took a P>ritish ship from the West Indies for Ire- 
land, but tins ]>rize was reca})tured before reaching 
port. IJunninu' up to Sandy Hook after this cap- 
tur(% Talbot inadvertently ran into the British fleet 
under Admiral Arbuthnot. Fie made sail to escape, 
holly pursued. The wind soon came on to a strong 
gale, and one of the Englishmen, a 74-gun ship of the 
line, carried away her foreyard and dropped astern. 
The ship of the line CnUodvit, however, continued the 
(diase, and finally captured the privateei*. Captain 
Talbot was taken aboard the RohuHiv, Captain Cosby 
— afterward admiral — and was treated with cour- 
tesy. From this vessel Talbot was transferred to 
a tender and taken to New York, and was confined in 
the ./cr.sr//, where he received the usual ill treatment. 
Toward the (dose of the year 1780, Talbot, with a 
number of other Anieri<'an ofticers and seamen, was 
phKM'd in the ship of the line YiiiiiutuiJi, Captain Lut- 
widge — afterward admiral — and taken to England. 
The barbarous treatment of the prisoners aboard the 
TdriiioHih is narrated in the <dia]>ter " An Escai>e 
from Old JMill Prison." After being incarcerated in 
Plymouth I*rison some months, Talbot, in October, 
1781, was rcdeased and made his v>ay to France. 
Early in February, 1782, he sailed from Nantes for 
lihode Island in a brig commanded by Ca])tain 1^^>1- 
gei'. When fifteen days out the v(^ss(d was capturiMl 
by the British privateer Jiipiffr, Captain Craig, who 
treated his ju-isoners with kindness. Falling in with 
a British brig from Lisbon for New York, Captain 
Craig i>laced Talbot aboard her, remarking that Tal- 



112 CAPTAIN SILAS TALBOT. 1799. 

bot had been a prisoner so long, and bad suffered so 
much, that be onglit to bave tbe earliest opportunity 
to reacb borne. Arriving at New York, Talbot took 
passage in a lumber boat to Stony Brook, Long 
Island, from wbieb place be walked some fifteen 
miles to a tavern kept b^^ one Mnnroe, at Hunting- 
ton, liemaining bere a week, be crossed tbe Sound 
at niglit in a boat and landed at Fairfield, Connecti- 
cut, from wbicb place be made bis way overland 
to Providence. After tbe war Talbot was regu- 
larly^ attaidied to tbe navy, and commanded tbe 
famous frigate Coiisfitiitioii in 1701), wlien sbe bad 
ber merry race witb a Britisb war sbi]> of tbe same 
class. ^ One of tbe torjx'do boats of our new uav^^ bas 
been named after Silas Talbot. 

^ See Mac-lay's History of the Navy, vol. i, pp. 173, 174. 



CHAPTER VITl. 

RAPID CKOWTII OF PKl VATi:i:UIX(^. 

That onr privateers were a p()w«'i-fnl ajxeiiej in 
briiigiu^- about tlie successful termination of the war 
for independence is seen in tlie marvelous develop- 
ment of that form (►f mai-itime warfare. While our 
Govei'nment war vessels steadily diminished in num- 
ber and force, from thirty-one vessels, with five hun- 
dred and eiii'hty-six <iuns,in 17T0,to seven ships, with 
one hundred and ninety-eight guns, in 1782, our priva- 
teers increased at the following remarkable rate: 
One hundred and thirty-six vessels, with thirteen hun- 
dred and sixty guns, for the years 1775 and 1776; 
seventy-three vessels, with seven hundred and thirty 
guns, in 1777; one hundred and fifteen vessels, with 
eleven hundred and fifty guns, in 177S; one hundred 
and sixty-seven vessels, with two tliousand five hun- 
dred and five guns, in 177tt; two hundred and twenty- 
eight v<'ssels, with three thousand four hundred and 
twenty guns, in 17S(); four hundred and forty-nine 
vessels, witli six thousand seven hundred and tliirty- 
five guns, in 17S1; and tliree liundi-ed and twi'uty- 
three vessels, with four thousand eight hundred and 
foi'ty-five guns, in 1782. '"' 

Anothei' interesting feature of this extraordinary 
development of i)rivateei-ing Avas the rapid increase 
in the size and eftiriency of the craft thus engaged. 
In the earlier ])art of the war any vessel, old or 
new, that could possibly be converted into a war 
craft was eagi^rl}' seized, a few guns mounted on her, 

ii;] 



114 RAPID GROWTH OP PRIVATEERING. 1778-1779. 

and sli(^ was Mcnt to s<^a with, in some cases, the most 
curions assemblage of men imafiiuable. Physicians, 
lawyers, army officers, politicians, staid, merchants, 
and eyeii ministers of the Gospel, were found in their 
complements; all seemingly carried away by the 
" craze for i)rivatecring." 

As the war progressed, and as the profits from 
prizes enriched the owners of these craft, new, 
s\yifter, and better yessels were bnilt expressl^^ for 
this seryice, so that when, on the outbreak of hostili- 
ties, ten gnns was considered a large armament for a 
priyateer, and thirty to sixty men were deiMned suffi- 
cient to man each, toward the latter part of the war 
yessels mounting twenty, and even twenty-six guns, 
and having comi)lements of one hundred and fifty to 
tAVo hnndre<l men, were the rule rather than the ex- 
ception. As the (iov(M'nnient cruisers one b^^ one fell 
into the hands of the eiuMiiy, or were lost by ship- 
wreck, or were bbn-kaded in our ports, their number 
rapidly diminislu^d, an<l Congress frequently called 
u])on oui* ]>rivateers to ])erform missions of national 
importance. 

One of the first privjiteers to get to sea in 1778 
was the KJ-gun brig Jldzurd, Captain John Foster 
Williams, <»f Massachus(4ts. Slie ca])tured a brig 
and a schooner. On the Kith of .March, 1779, the 
/fdzdn], wliile <ruising off St. Thomas, fell in with 
the Englisli brig .lr///-c, (''a])tain Sims, carrying eight- 
een guns, with sixteen swivels, and a complement 
of one hundred men. An action quickly followed, and 
after thirty-seven minut(^s of spirited fighting the 
enemy siirrender(Ml, having thirteen men killed and 
tw<Mity wonnd<Ml; the loss of tlie Americans being 
three killed and five wonnded. 

Soon aft(^r this the /hizanl liad a battle with an 
English bomb ship of fourteen guns and eighty men, 
the IIa.Z(in1\s original complement of ninety men hav- 
ing by this time been reduced to about fifty men. 
Realizing their advantage in numbers, the British 



17:8-1770. THE BENNINGTON AND BUNKER JIII.L. Hf) 

made several attempts to board, when, after beiug 
repelled each time with heavy loss, they sheered oiT. 
In the summer of 1771) the n<iz<ird joined the Penob- 
scot expedition, and in Ani;ust was bnrned to prevent 
her falling' into the hands of the enemy. 

Some time in 1778 the privateers lUniiiiKjldn and 
Bunker Hill ^ot to sea and made fairly snccessfnl 
cruises. The former, commanded by (''a])tain W. New- 
ton, and afterward by Captain K. Craiii, was a slooj) 
monntini; six iiuns and four swivels, and was manned 
by tifteen men. Sho was commissionod fi-om Mary- 
laud and captured a valuabh^ ship. In the fidlowinj;" 
year she took a liritish privateer of twe]v(^ j;uus. Tho 
Jiiiiil-cr Hill, a schoonei' of ten liuns, with a <*om]»l(^- 
ment of forty-five men, uudor Cajttain S. Thompson, 
from Connecticut, in 177S made one prize. 

The privateer bri^s Cohniihiix and Fdrorilc also 
made cruises in 1778, in which they cai)tui*ed one ves- 
s(d each. The ColuiiiJnis, carrying,' twelve j^uns ;iud 
thirty nn^n, uudei* (''a])tain T. Moore, took the sloo]) 
St. I'ctcr, while tln^ Farorifc, Captain Lamb, ca]>tured 
a shi]) armed with sixteen i;uns, havini;' a cari;<> of 
loi>wood. 

The (J-Liun shto]) IJ(i(/l(\ Ca])tain E. Conkliujii-, had a 
more excitini>' ex})erience. She went to sea with only 
thirty men, and in one cruise made six prizes. Tn 
manninii' these vessels Captain Conklinp; reduce<l his 
own crew to fifteen u\('a\, who, besides haviui; the 
\\()vk of haudlin^i;' the sails, were compelled to iiuard 
tlu^ larji'e number of ]H'isouers taken aboard. It was 
not lon_i>- before the British prisoners rcnilized the 
critical position in which the Americans had been 
l»laccd, and, scizinji' a favorable opportunity, tliey rose 
on their ca]»tors, and killiuij, all exc(^pt two boys took 
]»ossession of the IJiK/h' and endeavor(^d to run 1km* 
iut(> a British port. Before reachium' a i)lace of safety, 
however, the Edijh' fell in with the American priva- 
teer llaiicovl' and was retaken. In 1771) the Eiuilr, 
while in New York, was blown up. 



116 RAPID GROWTH OP PRIVATEERING. 1778. 

The splendid privjiteor ships General Putnam and 
Marlborough got to sea in the spring of 1778. The 
former, carrying twenty gnns and one hundred and 
fifty men, nnder Captain T, Allen, from Connecticut, 
ca])tnre(l a l)rig with a cargo of proyisions. The Marl- 
boroinjli, Captain Babcock, from Massachnsetts, was 
one Of th(^ most successful ])i*iyateers in this war, 
haying made, in all, twenty-eight prizes; one of them 
a 5?layer with three hundred negroes aboai-d. 
-^ ^Perhaps next to the MarJJtorouijh in ]K)int of num- 
ber of ]>rizes was a ukm-c l)oat armed with only two 
guns and manned by twenty men. In spite of her 
unpi'epossessiug name tliis boat, called the Skinik, 
commissioned in New Jeisey, is reported to haye sent 
" in no less than nineteen prizes, many of them of con- 
siderable yalu<'. 

In dune, 177S, the armed sloop VoJatite, Captain 
^ Daniel, of Conn(Mti<Mit, captured the sloop Raiiycr, 
carrying eight guns and thirty-fiye men; and about 
the same time the IS-gun shij) Minvrra, Cai)tain J. 
Earle — afterward commanded by Captain J. Angus — 
from Pennsyhania, made a ])rize of a schooner. The 
Miiicrra ha<l a comjdement of sixty men. 

'IMie (►-gun brig MoiiiikhiUi, of ^lassachusetts, Caj)- 
tain 1). Iug(MS(d, ca])tured one vessel in 177S, but 
aftei'ward the prize was lost by shipwreck near l*orts- 
moutli, hei- ci-ew of eleyen men ]»erishing. In tln^ fol- 
loA^ing year the MoiniioiilJi made a cruise in which 
she took two brigs, a scliooner, ami a sloo]>. The last 
was in charg<' of a midshi]»man in the Poyal Nayy, 
wlio had four men with him. 

l^^tr American ]>riyateersnien September secuus to 
haye been the lucldest mouth in the year 1778. On 
Sejttember (>th the l(l-gun brig (hrttrd, Ca])taiu J. 
Josiah, of Pennsylyania, while cruising in comi)an3^ 
witli tlie American ])rivateei' (Univcnilon, met a sail 
which iiumediat(dy aroused suspicions. Chase was 
proni])tly giyen, and in s])ite of the utmost endeavors 
of the peoi)le in the cliase the American privateers 



1778. BATTLES OF THE VENGEANCE. 1]7 

soon had her under their guns. On investigation the 
stranger proved to be an American privateer, the 
sloop Active, wliieli, liaving made several prizes, had 
taken aboard a number of prisoners. These prison- 
ers, as in the case of the sloop Ed'jlc, just noti('e<l, had 
risen on their captors and made themselves masters 
of the sloop. To make sure that there would be no 
repetition of this experience, Captain Josiah escorted 
the Actirc into Philadelphia. 

On September 17th the IS-gun brig VciK/cancr,, 
Captain Newman, of Massachusetts, having a com- 
plement of one hundred men, fell in with the British 
packet ship Uarrui, mounting sixteen guns and 
manned by forty-tive men. Although the IlanUt was 
a packet ship, selected for that service es})ecially be- 
cause of her great speed, she was unable to keep her 
lead on the American privateer, which, after a hard 
chase of several hours, overhauled her and forced a 
battle. Newman reserved his fire until within musket 
shot, when he delivered his broadside, the English- 
men responding with si)irit. In fifteen minutes, how- 
ever, the superiority of American gunnery asserted 
itself and the enemy surrendered, having a number 
killed or wounded. On the part of the Americans 
one man was killed. 

P^our days after this Captain Newman had the 
good fortune to fall in with another packet ship, the 
Eagle, of fourteen guns, having a crew of sixty men. 
Again were the superior sailing qualities of tlie 
American privateer emphatically shown, for nfter 
a long chase the Veiu/eaiiee overtook the swift IUkjIc 
and brought her into action. As in his (Migagcmcnt 
with the Il<irriet, Captain Newman reserved his shot 
until within the closest range, when he delivered his 
lire with great effect. The Englishmen fought with 
their usual bravery, but in twenty minutes were com- 
pelled to haul down their colors, having several of 
their number killed or wounded — among the former 
a colonel. Aboard the prize were four lieutenant 



118 RAPID GROWTH OF PRIVATEERING. 1779-1778. 

colonels and three majors who had taken passage in 
the Eufilc so as to y>\u their regiments in America. 
On Angust 14, 1771), while under the command of 
Captain Thomas, the VviKjcancv was destroyed in the 
Penobscot cxixMlition. Another armed vessel, 
monnting sixteen gnns, called \'<'tnjc(Uici\ while under 
the command of <'a]>tain Deane, in October, 1779, 
had a well-contested action with the British brig 
l>cfi(iiicc, carrying fonrtiMMi gnns and seventy-two 
men. The Englishmen tinally were overcome, hav- 
ing fifteen of their nnmber killed or wonnded, while 
the American loss Avas eight. 

It was on Se]>tember 10, 177S, that one of the 
most dramatic actions in which an American priva- 
teer was concerned to(tk ]»lace. liea<lers of American 
naval history are familial- with the tragic fate of the 
riiited Stales o^-giin frigate IxiiiKJolpli, which on 
March 7, 177S, gave battle to the IJritish 71-gnn ship 
of the line )'(inn(nif]i in order to sax'e a convoy of mer- 
chantmen which A\'as nnder the l\(iii<l()lpir.s ])rotec- 
tion. An nnlncky shot from the )'(iriii(nilli ignited 
the l\<iii(lol/)irs magazine and blew her to pieces, only 
four of her romplement of three hnndred and fifteen 
men being save(l. Only a few months after this, or 
on Se]>tember llMli, this sea ti'agedy was repeated, 
with the diffei-ence that this time it was the Hritish, 
not the American, that was blown n]». 

On tlu^ day nuMitioned the ])rivateer (IciicniJ flaii- 
cock, Captain Hardy, of Massachnsetts, carrying 
twenty gnns and a crew of one lunnlred and fifty 
men, fell in with the liritish 32-gnn shi}) Lcraiif, Cap- 
tain J. Martin, manned by over one hnndred men. 
Aftei- an action of about three hours a shot from the 
(iciicrdJ //(iiicoch- i-eached the Lcraiirs magazine and 
blew her u|), all on board ])erisliing excei»ting the 
boatswain and seventeen men. It is a singular coin- 
cidence that both the ill-stai-red lUindolplt and Lcraiit 
eari'ied the same nnmber of gnns. 

Soon after this Ca|)tain Hardy came across a fleet 



1778-1779. TFIE TRUE AMERICAN AND BLACK PRINCE. ]10 

of twenty-one sail uiuler the protection of several war 
vessels. By adroit inanenverini;' Hardy nianai;ed to 
cut ont the 8-i»nn ship Ladji Erfd-Uw. In this affair the 
GciicniJ IhiiicocJx was assisted by the American priva- 
teer livdwr. 

The little privateer slooj) Proridciicc, ('a])tain J. 
fonner, of Pennsylvania, made several snccessfnl ven- 
tnres in 177S and in 1779, capturing the shl]) Naiicif, 
the brigs (Ikisc and lUUti, and the schooner Frlcud- 
ship. Captain Conner ])laced a prize crew aboai-d the 
Nanci/, with orders to make for the most available 
American ]>ort. When tlu^ ])rivateer had disappeared 
below the horizon, the British prisoners in the Xaiic}/, 
seizing a favorable oi)])ortnnity, sn<l(l(^nly fell upon 
their cai)toi''s, overpowered them, and regained pos- 
session of tlieir shij). Before they had i)rocee(led far 
on their new conrse, however*, the Naiici/ again fell in 
with tlie Pi-ori<I<ii('c and was recaptnred. 

It was some time in 1778 that the Ainei-ican 12- 
gnn ])rivat(M^r Tfue A)iivric<iii, Captain Bnfhngton, of 
Massachnsotts, had a severe engagement with a West 
India h4t(M- of marqne. Unfortunately tlu^ details of 
this affair have not been preserved. 

Perha])s one of the most formidable privateers that 
put to sea in the year 1778 was the Black Prince, of 
INIassachusetts, Cai)tain West. This vessel was built 
ex])ressly foi- piivateering, being among the first of 
this class of formidable war craft to get to sea. She 
is said to have been an exceptionally handsome speci- 
men of naval architecture. Carrying eight(MMi guns, 
with a complement of one hundred and sixty uhmi, 
this fine shij) put to sea in October, 1778, and cap- 
tured a snow and two brigs. In the f<dlowing year 
she Avas attached to the Penobscot expedition and 
was destroved. 



CHAPTER IX. 

A BOY rraVATEERSMAN. 

In followiiijj, the rarcci* of Andrew Sherburne, a 
boy privatec^i-snian in tlu^ Kevolution, the reader will 
become familiar Avith a ])hase of privateering; of which 
too little is known. Sherburne bej^an his sea life at 
the aiic of fourteen by enterin<i' the United States 
cruiser l\(iii</<'r soon after her return from her cele- 
brated cruise in the Irish Sea under Cai^ain John 
Paul Jones. The RaiKjcr sailed from Boston in June, 
1779, under the command of Captain Simpson, one of 
her lieutenants in her fii;ht with the I)nil-r. After a 
successful career in the West Indies the Raii(/cr re- 
turned to Boston in Auf»ust refitted, and, getting to 
sea again, made a short cruise, and then put into 
Charleston, where she was captured by the Brit- 
ish, together Avith several Continental cruisers. 

As the RdiKjcr had been built at Portsmouth, New 
Hampshire, the patriotic citizens of that ])lace, on 
learning of her loss, built another shij), which they 
called the AJv.riOKlvr, to be used as a privateersman, 
the command of her also being given to Cai)taiu 
Simi)Son. Young Slierburn(% with most of the officers 
and men of the Ihnujcr, enlisted in her. The Alexander 
got to sea in December, 17S0, and returned to port 
after a i)rofitless cruis(^ of several weeks. Sherburne 
had intended to sail in her again, but he happened to 
meet a stranger in the streets of Portsmouth one day 
who ])ersuaded him to go aboard the fishing schooner 
(hrnlioiiiKl, that Cai)tain Jacob Willis, of Kennebunk, 

120 



1781. ENLISTING PRIVATEERSMEN. 121 

was fitting out as a privateersman. Sailors at that 
time were very scarce, and peculiar methods were em- 
ployed to fill out complements. Sherburne was taken 
into the cabin and introduced to the officers, who 
made themselves extremely agreeable to the budding 
privateersman, pattjng him on the head, saying that 
he was a fine-looking youngster, etc., and finally ask- 
ing him to sing. Even this (daborate flattiM-y did not 
secure the boy, who still held off, but ]>i-omised to con- 
sider the offer. He remained aboard the Grff/houiid 
while she ran down to Old York, a small port nine 
miles east of ]*ortsmouth, in the h<)])e of enticing 
more seamen aboard. The officers of the Grci/houiid 
went ashore, put up at a tavern, and gave what they 
called " a jovial evening," to which all seafaring men 
were invited. Wlien tlie company had become suffi- 
ciently "jolly," the officers went among the men en- 
deavoring to imluce them to enlist. Several were 
ship])ed in this manner. 

Stopping at sevei-al other ports for the same pur- 
pose the (lni/]ioiiii(] i)ut to sea and api)eared off Hali- 
fax. Here, during a gale of wind, she was (diased by 
a large schooner and overtaken, but the stranger 
proved to be an American privateer. Running close 
into Halifax harbor, Taptain Willis discovered a ship 
that ap])eared to be in distress, and believing that 
she might prove a rich prize he ran down, and did 
not realize that she was a British cruiser until within 
gunshot. The (Urjihotnul turned in flight, with the 
" crip])led merchantman " in full chase. In a few 
minulcs it was seen that the stranger was neither 
crippled nor a dull sailer, for she rapidly overhauled 
the American and would have captured her had not 
a heavy fog rolled over, completely enveloping both 
vessels and enabling the (InifJioinKj, by changing her 
course, to escape. 

After this adventure Captain Willis changed his 
cruising ground to the mouth of the St. Lawrence. A 
large number of sails were seen, but they all proved to 
11 



JL22 A BOY PRIVATEERSMAN. 1781. 

be Americans on tlie same bnsiness as the (hri/Iioimd., 
Touchini; at a small lii-onp of islands, where the priva- 
teer took aboard several dozen bnshels of wild bird 
ej^i^s, Captain Willis fell in with " an iiidei)en<lent 
English fisherman " — that is, one who was not in the 
employ of the British company that had a monopoly 
of fishing in those waters — from whom he learned 
that an English brig had reciMitly entered I-'ortiine 
Bay with sn]»]dies for the fishing stations. The (lir//- 
homid did not find the brig, bnt ca])tnred several fish- 
ing shallo]>s, tw(> of which were manned and or<lered 
to the Ignited States. 

Yonng Sherburne was j)laced in one of tliese, the 
(Ini/JioinK] meantime making for Salem. While en- 
deavoring to cross the (lulf of St. Lawrence the shal- 
lop in which Sherburne had been ])laced met heavy 
weather, and in a few days sighted a strange vessel. 
Sherburne says: "We sometimes thought whether it 
might not be another prize that the privateer had 
taken. Shortly, how(n-er, most of us were rather in- 
clined to think it was the enemy. She continued to 
gain upou us and ^^■(^ discovered that her crew were 
rowing. . . . They so<tn began to fire u])on us with 
long buccaneer pieces, into wdiicdi they put eight or 
ten common musket balls for a charge. The first time 
they fired they did not sti'ike us, but we heard their 
bullets whist lo over our heads. The second time their 
charge went through the head of the mainsail, and 
the third time it went through the middle of our main- 
sail. Wo now heaved to. In a few minutes they were 
alongside cd' us and twenty men sprang aboard with 
these long guns in their hands, loaded, cocked, and 
])rimed, and ] (resented two or three at each of our 
breasts without ceremony, cursing us bitterly and 
threatening our lives. We ])lead(Ml for quarter, but 
they, with vi(d(^nce, re])rimanded us, and seemed de- 
termined to take our lives, after they had sufiiciently 
gratified themselves Avith the most bitter im])reca- 
tions that language could afford. There w^ere one or 



1781. IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS. 123 

two who intercfMled for ii8. One of these was their 
romiiuiiKhM', but their entreaties seemed to increase 
tlie raiie of some of the others. We stood trembling 
and awaiting tlieir decisions, not presnming to re- 
monstrate, for some of tliem scMMiied to be perfect 
furies. At lengtli their (•a])tain and several others, 
who seemed more rational, i)revailed on those heady 
fellows to forbear their rashness. 

" Their first business was to get the prizes 
under way for their own port, which was called 
Grand Bank. By this time, say two or three o'(dock, 
there was qnite a pleasant breeze. The Newfound- 
landers (for 1 am imdiiUMl, for the ])reseiit, to for- 
bear calling them English oi- the Irish) made it their 
business to go into particular iiKpiiries as to what 
had transpired with us since we left tlic bay. One 
of us had a copy of the (IrvjilioiiniVs commission as a 
priyateer. The wind being fair, we arrived at 
Orand r>ank before night, an<l almost the whoh^ vil- 
lage were collected to see the Yankee prisoners. 
We were taken on shore and soon surrounded, per- 
haps by a hnndriHl people. Among them was an 
old English lady of distinction who appeared to 
have an excellent education, and to whose opinion 
and instructions they all seemed to pay an especial 
defenMice. She was the only person among them 
who in(|uired after papers. I presented the com- 
missions. This lady t<»ok them and commenced read- 
ing them audibly and M'ithout int(n'ruption until 
she came to the <dause in tlie jirivatecM-'s letter of 
marque and rei)risal whi( h authorized to ' burn, 
sink, or destroy," etc. ^laiiy of the people became 
so exceedingly exasperated that they swore that we 
ought to be killed outriglit. They W(n'e (diiefiy west 
countrymen and Trishmen, rougli and (|uite uncul- 
tivated, and were in a stat<' of com^tlete anaridiy. 
There was neither magistrate nor minister among 
them. They ap])eared vei-y loyal, however, to his 
majesty. The old lady inter]»osed, and soon called 



]24 A BOY PRIVATEEHSMAN. 1781. 

them to order. She informed them that we were 
prisoners of war and on*;ht to be treated with hu- 
manity and conveyed to a British armed station. 
She then went on with lier readin^u', and eh)sed with- 
out further interruption. Tliis <^(hh\ woman gaye 
directions, and they began to ])repare some refresh- 
ment for us. They hung on a pot and boiled some 
corned codiish and salted pork. When it was boiled 
sullHciently, they took the ]M»t out of do<n*s, where 
there was a s<iuare piece of board whi( h had a cdeat 
on ea(di edge, the corners being open. They then 
turned the pot upside down u])on the board, and 
when the water was suihciently drained away the 
board was set on a table, or rather a benidi, some- 
thing higher than a common table, and the com- 
pany stood aroun<l this table without plates or 
forks. They had fish knives to cut their pork, but 
generally ]»icke«l uj* the fish A\ith their fingers, and 
had hard baked biscuit for broad. Having taken 
our refreshment, we were conducted into a cooper 
sho]) and locked up, the windows scM-ured, and a 
guard i)lace(l outsich'." 

On th(^ following morning the ])risoners were 
])laced aboard a shallo]> ami locked in the fish room 
— a dark, noisome place, whei-e they had everything 
taken from them except the (dothes they wore. 
Even their shoes were approi>riated. In this filthy 
h(de they were conveyed to a little harbor called 
Cornish, where tlu^v found the owner of the '' inde- 
ix'udent fishing boat," who treatiMl tlu^n kindly, of- 
fering them a loaf of bread and a ])late of butter. 
The Americans were hxdvCMl u]) overnight in this 
place in the warehouse, and on the following morn- 
ing they were taken six miles u]) the river and landed 
so as to strike across the hnnl to Tape IMacentia 
Bay. In this nuirch of twenty miles the privateers- 
men suffered greatly, as, being without shoes, their 
feet soon becann^ lacerated. About five miles from 
their destination they met an old Jerseyman who 



1781. DUCHESS OF CUMBERLAND WRECKED. L^.") 

owned a luiraber of sliallops, several of wliieli had 
been captured by Ameriean privateers. When the 
old man discovered who the prisoners were, he be- 
came hiiihly (^xasperat(Ml, and insisted that they 
ouji'ht to be put to death, and, had it not been for 
the i^nard of seven sturdy men, he might have car- 
rie<l out his wishes with his own hands, llefnsing 
to give food or shelter to the prisonei-s overnight, 
the irascible Jerseyman slammed the door in the 
faces of the travelers and went into the house. 
Thereupon the guard took possession of his brew- 
house, which, although wet and muddy, made a 
fairly good shelter for the night. 

Arriving at a small port called Morteer, where 
the inhabitants fired a gun in celebration of the ad- 
vent of " Yankee prisoners," our adventurers were 
placed aboard a fishing boat and taken to Placen- 
tia, the largest fishing station in that part of New- 
foundland. It was now ]May, 1781, and in Septem- 
ber the British sloop of war DiicJic^.s of Ciittihcrlaitd, 
(.'aptain Samuel ^Marsli — formerly the American pri- 
vateer Coiif/rcss, built at Beverly, ^Massachusetts, 
which had recently been captured and taken into 
the English service — came into port, and, taking the 
Americans aboard, sailed for St. John's, Newfound- 
land, where there was a prison ship in whi( h a num- 
ber of our seamen had becMi confined. 

On the night of Septemb(n- 10th, while the Duchess 
of Cunihcrhiml was on her passage to St. Jcdin's, she 
was Mr(M-ked on a desert island, and twenty of her 
one hundred and seventy people were lost. After 
enduring great liardships, the survivors regained 
IMacentia, where our ]irivateersmen Avere again 
placed in the garrison house. About the end of 
the following October the British sloop of war Fairi/, 
Captain Yeo, came into the harbor, and, taking 
the Americans aboard, carried them to Plymouth, 
England, where they were confiued in Old Mill 
l*rison. 



126 A BOY PRIVATEERSMAN. 1781. 

('jil>1ain V(M) was the fa(li(']' of Sir James Lucas 
Y(M>, w li<» bccaiiic iiot(tvi(ms in our naval war with 
(h-cat lii-itain in 1S12, and it is ])r()bable that James 
was aboard the F<i}rii in 17S1, as Captain Yeo is 
known to have had his son with him. It was Sir 
James who wrote, in Sei»tember, 1812: ^' Sir James 
Yeo i^resents his eomi)liments to Cai)tain Porter, of 
th(^ American frii^ate /vs-.sf.r, and wonhl be j^lad to 
liave a tvtv-a-iftr anywhere between tlie Capes of 
Delaware and Havana, where he wonld have the 
pleasure to break his sword over his damned head 
and pnt him (h>wn forward in irons." We now get 
onr tirst insight into the character of the Yeos. 
Yonng Sherburne describes Ca])tain Yeo as a " com- 
plete tyrant." He writes: " \\'illis and myself were 
called upon the quarter-deck, and, after being asked 
a few (questions by Captain Yeo, he turned to his 
ofticers and said: ' They are a con])le of tine lads for 
his majesty's service. ^Ir. Cray, see that they do 
their duty, one in the for(M(»]) and the other in the 
niainto]).' I said that T was a prisoner of war, and 
that I could not consent to serve against my coun- 
try. With very hard words and several threats we 
were oi-dered off the <|uarter-deck and commanded 
to d(> our- duty in the waist. . . . AVhile lying at St. 
John's w(^ bad an o]>portunity of seeing some of Cap- 
tain ^'eo's character exhibited. It was contrary to 
orders to bring any s]nrituous liquors aboard. It 
was the cust(»m to licnst in the boat at night, lest 
any of the nu'u should elude the guard, steal the 
boat, and run away. One evening, as the boat was 
hoisted in, there was a bottle of rum discovered in 
the boat. No one of the boat's crew would own the 
bottle, and the next morning the whole crew, six in 
number, were seized up to the gangway, with their 
shirts stripped off, and ea( h received a dozen lashes. 
It was very common for this captain to have his 
men thus whip])ed for very trifling faults, and some- 
times when faultless. At a certain hour the cook 



1781. CAPTAIN YEO THE ELDER. 127 

gives out word to the men and officers' waiters that 
they ma3' have hot water to wash their dislies, etc. 
One day a midshipman's boy called on the cook for 
hot water. The cook had none, and reprinunnhMl 
the lad for not coming in proper season. Tlu^ boy 
complained to his master, whose rank on !)oard was 
no higher than the cook's, and who was himself but 
a boy. The midshipman came forward and began 
to reprimand the cook, who told him, that had the 
boy come at the proper time ho wonld have had hot 
water enough, but that he should not now furnish 
him or any one else. This young blood made his com- 
jtlaint to the captain that he was insulted by the 
vook, who was a man in years, and who for this af- 
front, offered to a gentleman's son, must be brought 
to the gangway and take his dozen lashes. I b(^- 
lieve that the laws of the navy do not admit of a 
warrant officer being punished without he is first 
tried and condemned by a court-martial. I under- 
stand that the captain had violated the laws of the 
navy in a number of instances. He had a number 
of men in irons on the whole passage to England." 
On arrival in Plymouth, Captain Y(m) was super- 
seded in the command of the Fair/f by a now cap- 
tain. Young Sherburne notes tlu^ (diange of com- 
manders as follows: "Captain Y«m) took leave of 
his ship without any ceremony of r<'S])ect being 
shown him fi-om the crew. Shortly aft<^r the new 
ca])tain came on board, and was salut(Ml with three 
cJKMn's from the crew." 

Til striking contrast to the brutal temperament 
of Captain Yeo, we have that of the Fnirjfs carpen- 
ter. Two days after Y(m) had comjicdled the two 
Amei'ican la<ls to serve against their country, all 
hands were called, Sherburne and AVillis went to 
the cable tier, the proper place for prisoners of war, 
and on the boatswain a])])roa(diing them and de- 
manding why they refused to obt\v the call for all 
hands the bovs said that thev considered them- 



X28 A BOY PRIVATEERSMAN. 17«1. 

selves prisoners. " Tell me iiotliiiig about prison- 
ers," lie said. " Upon deck immediately! " " We still 
kept onr stations and remonstrated," records Sher- 
burne. " He uttered a number of most horrid impre- 
cations, and at the same time commenced a most 
furious attacdv upon us with his rattan. We for a 
while sternly adhei'ed to our purpose, while he al- 
ternately tlirashed the one and the other. He be- 
came more and more enraii(Ml, aiid we, not daring- to 
resist, thoui^ht it best to (dear out. We mounted 
the deck, with him at our heels repeatinn' his strokes. 
. . . The carpenter, wliose name was Fox, was sit- 
ting in his berth looking on. After we returned 
from quarters Fox called me and said: 'I see, my 
lad, that you are obliged to do duty. It is wrong, 
but it would not do for me to interfere; \vt I was 
thinking in your faA'or. II is majesty' allows me two 
boys. If you will conu' into my berth and take a 
little care here, I will excuse ycnir keei)ing watch 
and all other duty. You will be mucdi less exposed 
if you stay with me than you will be if you have to 
do youi- duty before the mast, and it is in vain for 
you to think to escai)e that, for Captain Yeo is a 
very arbitrary man; he is not liked by the crew, and 
his officers do not set nun h by him. I intend to 
leave the shij) myself when we get home.' " Arriv- 
ing at IMymouth, Fox gave further evidence of his 
kindn(^ss by olTcring to adopt the American boys. 
He said that he did not intend to f(dlow the sea; 
that he had a wife, but no (diild. On the boys de- 
clining this generous offer, the carpenter took pains 
to put them in a way of becoming prisoners of war 
again. " In a day or two after he [the new com- 
mander] had come on board, Mv. Fox came into his 
cabin where I was and said to me: 'Sherburne, the 
captain is walking alone on the quarter-deck. I 
think it is a good tinu' for you to speak to him. It 
may be that he will consider you as a prisoner of 
war.' " The two boys timidly approached the new 



1783. CAPTURE OF THE SCOllPlON. 129 

commauder and stated their positiou, and iu an hour 
they were sent aboard the prison ship DuiiJiirl\ 

From that place the boys were taken to Ohl Mill 
Prison, where the^' were confined several months, 
until exchanii'ed and sent to America in a cartel. 
Vonn<i- Sherburne had been in his native land only 
a few we(d;s when he entered a ])rivate(n' — the 
Scorpion, Captain II. Salter — and made a cruise in 
the West Indites. On the homeward passai^e the 
Scorpion was cajdured by the British frigate Ain- 
pliioH, and for a third time Sherburne found himself 
a prisoner of war. This time he was taken to Nej\' 
York and placed in the infamous ship Jcrsri/, where 
he experienced the usual brutal treatment accorded 
to Americans confined there. After an imprison- 
ment of several weeks he was reh^ased in an ex- 
(diange of prisoners, and made his way home, the 
war bv that time liavins ended. 



CHAPTER X. 

THE WORK OF 1770. 

The winter of 177T-'T8, during- which the Ameri- 
can army, nnder the immediate command of Wash- 
ington, iiad its liea(l<inarters at Valley Forge, has 
been popularly accepted as the darkest honr in onr 
struggle for independence. The American army had 
been driven out of New York, the most important 
city in the rebcdling colonies, the British had occu- 
pied IJhode Island' and had undisput<Ml possession of 
Philadelphia, and as the only niat(n-ial offset to 
these disasters we have the ca|)ture of Rurgoyne's 
army of some eight thousand men in Northern New 
York.' In the light of these reverses, the hope for 
independence was indeed forlorn. Congress, being 
largely influenced by foreign adventures, was im- 
potent, and really did more to hamper than to assist 
the American arms. So far as onr operations on 
land were conc-erned, therefore, it might almost be 
said that the winter of 1777-78 was the " darkest 
hour of thf Revolution." 

When we consider the work of our maritime 
forces down to this period, however, we find that 
some of thev heaviest blows at Rritish supremacy in 
the North American colonies had been delivered — 
blows that weTe felt by the ministry across the ocean 
more keenly than any reverses English arms had suf- 
fered on land. At the time the Continental army 
was encam])ed at Valley Forge, American cruisers, 
and especially i)rivateers, were scouring the seas, 
130 



1777-1778. BRITISH COMMERCE ANNIHILATED. \-]\ 

cai)tHi-ini;' li'rcat iiuiiibcrs of the eiioniy's war crafi 
and luercliantiiicii, liarassiii.n' En<2,lisli trade in all 
])arts of the tlion known world, liov('riii_i;' on the 
coast of tlie British Isles, tlirowini;- tlioir ])orts into 
frequent alarm, and, what is perhaps most impor- 
tant of all, maintainin.n' comnuinieations between the 
colonies and the outside world, by means of which' 
news of the victories gained bv the Americans was 
carried to the FreiKdi court, and specie and muni- 
tions of war were broujj,ht into the country. 

So disastrous had been the operations of our 
maritime forces on the high seas to British com- 
merce that Barliament, early in 1778, made special 
inquiries. On February 6, 1778, Alderman Wood- 
bridge testified at the bar of the House of Lords that 
" the number of ships lost by capture ov destroyed 
by American privateers since the commencement of 
the war was seven hundred and thirty-three, of 
which, after deducting for those retaken and re- 
stored, there remained five hundred and tifty-niue." 
William Creighton, Esq., " not only corroborated the 
alderman in the most material points, biit add(Ml 
many new facts which had fallen within his own 
knowledge. He stated the losses suffered bv nier- 
chantmen in consequence of the captures made by 
the American privateers io have amouut(Ml to at 
least two million pounds sterling in October last 
1 1777], and that by this time they could not be less 
thaii two million two hundred thousand ])ounds." ^ 

Seven hundred and thirty-three ships taken from 
the enemy by American ])rivateers in the first two 
full years of the war! Truly an ast(niishing record, 
and one that might Avell justify ])osterity in regar<l- 
ing the winter of 1777 '78 as far from being the 
'' dark(^st hour of the Ivevolution! " l^ut the most 
astonishing feature of these achievements is that 
these vessels w(M'e cai)tui-ed by a comparatively 

' Records of Pai'liament, vol. xix, pp. 707-711. 



[o,'2 THE WORK OF 1779. 1777-1779. 

small number of meii and ships. Down to the close 
of 1777 there had been commissioned from the vari- 
ous ports of the colonies, in all, one hundred and 
seventy-four private armed craft, mounting one 
thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight guns and 
manned by nine thousand two hundred and thirty- 
six men and boys. Some of these privateers did not 
succeed iu getting to sea, while others returned to 
l)(>rt without making a prize, and a number were cap- 
tured by the enemy. On the other hand, some of 
these private armed craft took as many as twenty in 
a single cruise, and on one occasion twenty-eight 
prizes. But, admitting that one hundred and sev- 
enty-four of our privateers got to sea, we tind that, 
taking the aggregate of seven hundred and thirty- 
three vessels, our amateur man-of-warsmen averaged 
more than four prizes each. Allowing the moderate 
estimate of iifteen men to each captured British 
merchantmen, Ave have a total of ten thousand nine 
hundred and ninety-tive prisoners made on the high 
seas by our enterprising and daring privateersmen, 
or fully as many prisoners as our land forces took 
iu the same time, with this important difference — 
namely, that many of the prisoners taken by our 
land forces were foreign mercenaries, who could be 
replaced so long as the stock of Hessians lasted, 
while the men captured by our privateers were sail- 
ors, a class of men absolutely necessary to Eng- 
land's existence as a great power, and a class she 
could not afford to lose. 

The year 1779 opened inauspiciously for Ameri- 
can privateers. On January 7th c^ne of the newest 
and best of our armed craft, the 20-gun brig Gcii- 
cml Ariiohl, Captain J. ^Nlagee, of Massachusetts, 
was driven ashore near Plymouth, and seventy-five 
of her complement of one hundred and twenty 
men perished. In the same month the 6-gun 
sloo]) General St<(r]x, with twenty men aboard, was 
wrecked on Xautucket Shoals, and all hands lost. 



In congress, 

WEDNESDAY, April ^, 1776. 

INSTRUCTIONS tj the Commanders of Private Ships or Vejjds of War, 
li'hich Jhall have Coiiimiffims or Letters of Marque and Reprfal, author fmg them to makt 
Captures of Brit if ^ Vefj'els and Cargoes. 

I. 

YO U may, by Force of Arms, atlack, fubduc, and talcc all Ships and other VelTels bclon;mg to the 
Inhabitants of Great-Britain, on the High Seas, or between high-water and low-water Maiks, except 
Ships and VelTds bringing Pcrfuns who intend to fettle and refidc in the United Colonics, or bringing 
Arms, Ammunition or Warlike Stores to the faid Colonies, for the Ufe of fuch Inhabitants thereof as are Friends 
10 the American Caiife, which you Ihall fufier to pafs unmolclled, the Commanders thereof permitting a peace- 
able Search, and -ivmg fatisfaftory Information of the Contents of the Ladings, and Dcftinations of the Voyages. 

I!. 
You may, by Force of Arms, attack, fubdue, and take all Ships and other \'c(Icls whatfocvcr carry i no Soldiers, 
Anns, Gun-powder, Ammunition, Provifions, or any other contraband Goods, to any of the BruiQi Armies 
■or Ships of War employed sgainft thefe Colonies. 

III. 
You (lull bring fuch Ships and VelTcIs as you (hall take, with their Guns, Riegin;, Tackle, Apparel,. Fur- 
niture and Ladings to I'ome convenient Port or Ports of the United Clonics, that Proceedings may thereupon 
be had inducFoim before the Courts which are or lliall be there .nppointcd to hear and determine Caufcs civil and 
maritime. 

IV. 
You or one of your Chief Officers fhall bring or fend the Mafter and Pilot and one or more principal Perfon 
or Perfons of the Company of every Ship or VelFel by you taken, as fjon after the Capture as may be, to the 
Judge or Judges of fuch Court as afiirefaid, to be examined upon Oatli, and make Anfwer to the Interrogatories 
which may be propounded touching the Intereft or Property of the Ship or Veffel. and her Lading ; and at the fame 
Time you Iball deliver or caufe to be delivered to the Judge or Judges, all PalTes, Sea-Briefs, Charter-Parties, 
Bills of Lading, Cocket!, Letters, and other Documents and Writings found on Board, proving the faiJ Papers 
by the Affidavit of yourfcif, orof fome other Perfon piefentat the Capture, to be produced as they were received, 
without Fraud. Addition, Subduclion, or Embezzlement. 

V. 
You (hall keep and pre.'ervc every Ship or Velkl and Cargo tiy you taken, until they fliall bv Sentence of a 
Court piopeily authoiifcd be adjudged lawful Prize, nat felling, fpoiling, walling, or dimiiiKIi'ing the fame or 
breaking the Bulk thereof, nor fuftering any fuch Thing to be done. 

VI. 
If you, or any of your Officers or Crew fliall, in cold Blood, kill or maim, or, by Torture or otherwife, 
cruelly, inhumanly, and contrary to common Ufageand the Praflice of civilized Nations in War, treat any Per. 
fon or Petfuns furprized in the Ship or Vellel you ftall take, the Offender (hall be fcvercly punilhed. 

VH. 
You (lull, by all convenient Opportunities, fend to Congrcfs v/ritlen Accounts of the Captures you (hall 
make, with the Number and Names of the Captives, Copies of your Journal from Time to Time, and Intelli- 
gence of what may occur or be cifcovered concerning the Defigns of the Enemy, and the Dertinations, Motions, 
and Operations of their Fleets and Armies. 

VIII. 
One Third, at the leaft, of your whole Company (hall be LanJ-.Mcn. 

I.X. 

You (lull not ranfome any Prifoners or Captives, hut (hall difpnfc of them in fucli Manner as the Congrcfs, 
or if that be not fitting in the Colony whither they (hall be brouglit, as the General Afiemblv, Convention, or 
Council 01 Committee of Safety of fuch Colony (hall direft. 

X. 

You fhall obferve all fuch further Inflruaions as Congrcfs (hall hereafter give in the Prcmifc:, when ycu (h.ill 
have Notice thereof. 

XI. 

If you (hall do any Thing contrary to thefe Inftruflions, or to others hereafter to be given, or willingly fii(P:r 
fuch Thing to be done, you fliall not only forfeit your Commiffion, and be liable to an Aflion for Breach of the 
Condition of your Bond, but be refponfible to the Party grieved for Damages fullaincd by I'uch Alal-setfation. 

By Order of Congrefs, 

"" "" ESIDENT. 



^^^^^^.i5^^S?;^P R 




Inxtinifliona to privatpers. 1770. 
From an orij^iiial. 



1779. THE PROTP]( TOR-ADMIRAL DUFF FIGHT. 13;3 

The General !^t(irk, also, was conimissioiied from 
Massachusetts. 

These reverses were in some degree eoniiterbal- 
anced by the Massachusetts 2G-guii ship Protector, 
Captain John Foster Williams, which, while cruis- 
ing at sea January 0th, fell in with the British pri- 
vateer Admiral J>i(ff\ Captain M. Strange, carrying- 
thirty guns and about one hundred men. The Pro- 
tector had a conii)lenient of nearly two hundred men 
and boys. The two ships quickly canu^ to (dose quar- 
ters, and for an hour and a half maintained a tim-ce 
contest, when a shot from the Protector penetrated 
the Englishmen's magazine and blew them u]), only 
fifty-tive of their crew being saved. Edward rr(d)le, 
afterward famous in the navy, was a young midshij)- 
man at this time, si^'ving in the I'rotcctor. Soon 
after this the Protector ha<l a running tight with the 
British frigate TJiamcs, but nfiov being within gun- 
shot several hours Captain Williams effected his es- 
cape. Ultimately the Protector was lost at sea. 

It was in 1771) that the arnuMl sloops Act ire. Cap- 
tain P. Day, of I?ennsylvania, and American Rereniie, 
Captain X. Shaw (aft<'rward commanded by Cap- 
tain l^eeds), of Connecticut, got to sea and made im- 
portant ca}>tures. The .lc//rr carried fourteen guns, 
with sixty men, and cai)tured, after a slight resist- 
ance, the British privateer Mercurn, of eight guns, 
commanded by Captain Campbell. The Aiiiericaii 
Revenue, armed with twcdve guns and manned by 
about one hundred men, took the 8-gun schooner 
^<ttt}/, besides another s<diooner laden with tobacco, 
and a sloop with a cargo of rum. 

Thr(M' other armed vessels, the Baltimore Hero, the 
Vat, and the Intrepid, made prizes early this year. 
The lialtitnore Hero had a drawn battle Avith a Brit- 
ish vesscd of equal force in tlu^ Chesapeake, and 
afterward made a prize. This privaleer carried 
fourteen guns, eight swivels, and a crew of thirty 
men, under Captain J. Earle. The Cat, a 2-gun 



i;>4 THE WORK OF 1771). 1779. 

scliooiior with seventy men, under Captain E. Ledger, 
of Pennsylvania, made one capture, while the In- 
Ircpid, of New Ilampsliire, a slii]) of twenty guns 
and one liniHli'e<l and sixty men, under Captain M. 
Hrown, to(>k four vessels from the enemy. 

Early in 1779 the 14-j;un brig llihcrnlti, Captain 
]{. Collins, manned by only thirty-live men, fell in 
with a king's cruiser mounting an equal number of 
guns, but having a comi>lement of eighty men. A 
severe action followed, and it was only after sev- 
eral had been killed on ea(di side that the vessels 
mutually separated. Anothei' jn-ivate armed brig 
bearing this name, also from I'ennsylvania, but com- 
manded by Captain J. Angus, while on a voyage to 
Teneriffe, ha<l an action with a snoAV mounting 
sixteen guns. The Americans managed to beat 
their adversary off. Shortly afterward this flihcniia 
was attacked by two armed scdiooners and a sloop, 
whi( h she also beat off, with a loss of two killed 
and eight wounded. The loss of the British is un- 
known. 

In April the l(>-gun brig Ifolhr, manned by one 
hundred men, under Captain M. Lawler, of Pennsyl- 
vania, Avhile at sea captur<Ml a S( hooner of ten guns, 
with forty-eight men, besides two armed sloops. In 
the following July the Uollcr captured, after an ac- 
,tion of an hour and a half, witli a loss of six 
kilh^d and sixteen wounded, among the latter being 
Ca])tain Lawler and his first otticer, a brig of six- 
teen guns. The enemy's loss was six killed and 
twenty Avound(Ml. There was another brig bearing 
the name llollrr, commissioned from the same State, 
carrying ten guns and thirty-five men, under Cap- 
tain (Jeorge (J(Mldes, wlii(di in June captured the 
British shi]> D'kiiki, having on board, as a part of 
her cargo, eighty cannon, sixty swivcds, ten co(diorns, 
and other military sui»i(lies. In the f(dlowing Au- 
gust this ITolhr captured three brigs lad(Mi with 
rum and sugar, one of which was wrecked off Cape 



1779. DESPPniATE FIGHT AGAINST AN INDIAMAN. i;^,5 

May. Before i-etiirniiig to port the Ilolkcr took a 
(l-j»nn sloop laden with (lry<j;()o{ls. 

One of the lar«>est privateers ((nnniissioned from 
New Hampshire was the Ilaiiipdcii, nionuting twenty- 
two o'uns and manned by one hnndred and fifty men. 
While under the command of Captain Salter the 
HatupdcH, in latitude 48° north, lonoitude 28° west, 
fell in with a lar<ie Indiaman armed with twenty-six 
guns. The vessels began an action which lasted three 
hours, when they separated, both in a crippled <-ondi- 
tion, the Americans having twenty-one killed or in- 
jured. The lldDipdcii was ca])tured by the Bi'itish in 
the Penobscot expedition. They found lu'r to be such 
a tine craft that they took her into the king's s(n'vi(:e. 

A privateer of the name Fntiil-Jut, Captain J. liob- 
inson, mounting eight guns, some time in 1779 cap- 
tured the British schooner True Blur, of ten giins, 
and two other vesscds. 

In April the little 1-gun schooner Tiro Brothers, 
of twenty-tive men, Caj^tain W. Gray, from ^lassa- 
chusetts, took aboard a number of volunteers at 
Salem, and captured a privateer of eight guns and 
sixty men. In th(^ same month the 12-gun ])rivate 
schooner Himlcr, of Pennsylvania, with a comple- 
ment of sixty men, under Captain J. Douglass, fell 
in with a well-armed British ship, which she engaged 
for one hour, when the Englishnu'U made sail in 
flight, leaving the Americans with four men wound- 
ed. Afterward the Hitiifcr captured a schooner. A 
privateer bearing this name, commissioned in Mas- 
sa(diusetts, a ship of twenty guns and one hundred 
and fifty nuMi, under Captain Brown, was lost in the 
Penobscot exi)edition. 

In A])ril of the same year the 14-gun ship Roe- 
l)Hcl\ Ca]>lain G. Ilemfield — afterward commanded 
by Cai)tain (Jray — of ^Massachusetts, while cruising 
off Salem, ca])tured the liritish privateer Castor, of 
eiglil guns and sixty men. 

In June, 1771), tlie lO-gun sloop Hancock, Captain 



[36 THE WORK OF 1779. 1779. 

T. Chester, of Conneetieut, captured the British 
armed schooner Ilawlce, and in the same month the 
little schooner Tcrrihlc, Captain J. Baker, of Penn- 
sylvania, made a prize of a schooner. In August 
the 18-gun brig IJancoclx, Captain P. Ilichards, of 
Connecticut, captured three brigs laden with rum. 

In the following month prizes were taken \)y the 
8-gun brig Iiiipcrfiiioif, Captain J. Young, of Penn- 
sylvania, by the (»-gun brig Macaroni, and by the 
12-gun brig ^yihl (Uif. It was on July Gth that the 
fjiipvrliitciif fell in with a suspicious-looking sail, and 
[)rom])tly gave chase. The American brig rapidly 
gained, and it was seen that the stranger was light- 
ening hers(df by throAving overboard heavy articles, 
some of which afterward were known to have been 
her cannon. In spite of these extreme measures the 
fleeing Englisliman — for sucdi the stranger proved 
to be — st(^adily lost ground, and soon was under the 
TuipvriUiviifs guns. The stranger surri^idered at the 
first summons, and on sending a boat aboard Cap- 
tain Young Icariicd that it was the king's cruiser 
IlarJcm, of fourteen guns, with a crew of eighty-five 
men. The commander of the Harhw, when he found 
that he must be overtaken, got int<> a b(jat with a 
few men and endeavored to (^scape, but before they 
had proceeded any great distance the boat upset, 
and all hands were lost. 

A brig and two schooners were captured by the 
Macaroni, Cai)tain D. Keybohl, of Penns^dvania, in 
July, and on the 13th of the same month the 14-gun 
craft ^Vihl Cat, with a complement of seventy-five 
men, after a severe action, took the king's schooner 
E(/iiioiif, commanded by a lieutenant in the Koyal 
Navy. Before the Wild Cat could secure her prize, 
however, she was ca]>tured by the British frigate 
^^llrpr}sc. 

One of the first pi-izes made by an American pri- 
vateer in August, 1779, was the brig Pitt, loaded 
with rum and sugar, which was taken by the 18-guu 



177$). TAKING A KING'S SHIP. I37 

schooner Jcuj, Captain Conrter, with one hundred 
men, from Pennsylvania. Abont the same time the 
li-gnn brig- J/«y.s', Captain Y. Taylor, of the same 
State, captured the Britisli sloop Active, mounting 
twelve guns, under the command of Captain Irvine. 
This vessel was taken by boarding, the English hav- 
ing their first officer and steward killed. The Mars 
also captured the transport brig Pollj/, having on 
board two hundred and fourteen Hessians, besides 
a snow of fourteen guns and forty-five men. These 
vessels were taken off Sandy Hook. The snow was 
retaken by the British on the following day. It was 
in August of this year that the 12-gun sloop PoUy, 
with one hundred men, under Captain Leech, of Mas- 
sachusetts, took a brig laden with tobacco. 

In September the 6-gun sloop Ilapp// Return, Cap- 
tain J. Leach, of New Jersey, took a brig, and two 
sloops laden with fustic and rum, and in the follow- 
ing month Ca])tain Craig, of the Continental arm^-, 
with a detachment of his company, captured the 
British sloop Xeptiine, carrying ten guns, four swiv- 
els, and two cocdiorns, manned by twenty-one men, 
near Elizabethtown. Before her cargo could be got 
ashore, however, a British war ship appeared and 
recaptured the Neptune. 

Some of the other ])rivateers making prizes this 
year were the 18-gun ship Olirer Cruiiiirett, Captain 
Parker, of M.*s^;aidmsfctts, which captured a tender 
of ten guns belonging to the ship of the line aSV. 
Oeon/e — the Oliver Croiiurell also took a ship and a 
schooner, making sixty prisoners in all — tlie Pttllds, 
of ^Massachusetts, which took a ship loade<l with pro- 
visions, and the (>-gun brig Uesotiition, Captain Z. 
Scare, of ]Massachusetts, Avliich made five prizes. 
The private armed sloop ^aUii, Captain J. Smith, of 
New York, had a severe battle with a British trans- 
port carrying eight guns. The vessels finally sepa- 
rated by mutual consent, the Americans having a 
loss of five killed and twelve wounded. 



(^HAPTEK XL 

JONATHAN IIAKADEN. 

The action botwoon tlio luar^unjc and the Ala- 
haiua, foTiiilit off Cliorhonri;-, Jinio 10, l.S(;4, has justly 
been r(\i;ai'(l(Ml as oiio <»f tlio most dramatic naval 
duels on record, Farragnt, in a letter to his son, 
said of it: '' I wonld sooner have fonj^ht that fight 
than any ever f ought on the ocean. Only think! It' 
was fought like a tournament, in full view of thou- 
sands of French and English, with a perfect confi- 
dence, on the part of all but the Union people, that 
we would be wlii]i])e(l." There was an action fought 
between an American and an English privateer off 
the Spanish coast nearly a hundred years before 
this, however, whi(di may w(dl be called the " Kinr- 
8(1 )■(}(■ Ahthona fight of the Kcvolution." Like the 
famous naval duel in the civil war, this action took 
l)lace near land, where thousands of people Avatched 
the struggle in breathless eagerness or wildly 
S])eculated on the result. The battle referred to 
was fought off Bilboa, June 4, 1780, between the 
American pi-ivateer (Ivncnil Pirhriiu/, commanded 
by Jonathan llaraden, and the British letter of 
marque Arliilhs, of London. The (leiicral Pirl^vrhnj 
was from Salem, where she had been fitted out and 
manned. She was a ship of one hundred and eighty 
tons, mounted fourteen G-pounders — the ordinary 
caliber in shi])s (►f her class, in that day— and car- 
ried a crew of forty-five men and boys. 

Haraden was one of the most dai'ing and skillful 
138 



1776. A SEAMAN OF EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY. 139 

navigators that ever sailed from Salem, and that 
is saying' a great deal when we come to consider the 
long list of successful commanders who have hailed 
from that port. He belonged to that group of men 
who have made old Salem town famous the world 
over, such as John Carnes, Benjamin Crowninshield, 
Thomas Benson, John Felt, William Grav, Joseph 
Waters, Simon Forrester, Thomas Perkins, and John 
Derby. Ilaraden had the reputation of being one 
of the most intrepid commanders known even to 
Salem ship lore. It has been said of him, that " amid 
the din of battle he was calm and self-poss<'Ssed. 
The more deadly the >strife, the more imminent the 
peril, the more terrific the scene, the more perfect 
seemed his self-command and serene intrepidity. He 
was a hero among heroes, and his name should live 
in honored and affectionate remembrance." Bather 
lavish praise, but the man deserved it, as will soon 
appear. 

Ilaraden certainly was a daring sailor and a sea- 
man of extraordinary ability. His many successes 
in the struggle for independence fully bear out this 
statement, and entitle him to be placed with such 
naval heroes of the Bevolutiou as Connyngham, 
Whipple, Hopkins, and John Paul Jones. He was 
born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, in 1745, and died 
in Salem in 1803, spending most of his active life on 
the sea. He came to Salem as a boy and entered 
the service of Bichard Cabot, father of the presi- 
dent of the famous Hartford Convention. Soon 
after hostilities broke out between the American 
colonies and the mother country he hastened to draw 
his sword in defense of his native land, and early 
in ITTO was appointed a " lieutenant " in the Tjiran- 
iiicidc, commanded by Captain J. Fiske, of Salem. 
The name of this vessel is sufficiently suggestive of 
the spirit of her owners and crew, and she soon 
justified the appellation in a striking manner by 
capturing a royal cutter and carrying her in tri- 



140 JONATHAN HARADEN. 177G-1779. 

niiiph into Saldii, the prize beiiiij;' bound from Hali- 
fax to New York with important papers aboard. In 
the same crnise the Tiira)niH'l(h\ June 13, ITTG, had 
a spirited action witli the British pael^et seliooner 
l)(\sp<tt<-]i, carryinji- eiglit gnns, twelve swivels, and 
thirty-one men. The privateer was a brig carrying 
fourteen guns and one hundred men. After a lively 
tight of about an hour the nvxpatch surrendered, hav- 
ing sustaine<l a loss of sev(Mi men wounded, with her 
commander, Mr. Gutteridge, and one kiUed. The 
Americans had one man killed an<l tw(> wounded. In 
the following month the Ti/ntiniicidc captured the 
armed ship (ilasfiou' and made thirty prisoners. In 
August she took the brig *^7. John and the schooner 
TJnrc BrotJicr.s. In the following year this vessel, 
while in comi)any with the privateer brig }fasso- 
chiiscff.s, of that State, attacked the British bark 
Tj(nnis(la](\ and after a struggle lasting three hours 
cai)tured her. The enemy had three men killed. In 
the same cruise the MasMfichiiscffs took a ship and 
six other vessids, in one of which were sixty-three 
Hessian (diass(Mirs. 

On the 20th of iNIarcdi, 1779, the Ti/niiiinci<]<', while 
cruising off Bermuda, fell in with the English brig 
Ixvrvii'jv, Captain Kendall, carrying fourteen guns 
and <Mghty-five men. The privateer at this time had 
a complement of ninety men, but mounted the same 
number of guns as formerly, so that the two vessels 
were about evenly niat<died. The ships quickly came 
to close quarters, and it was not long before the 
Americans managed to make fast alongside. Then 
began a tooth-and-nail tight. For over an hour the 
two crews fought ea(di other over their bulwarks, 
when the English, having a large number of killed 
or wounded and two of their cannon dismounted, 
surrendered. The Americans had eight men 
wounded. Tiiis was the last important service per- 
formed by the Ti/r(niiii('i(]<\ She was one of the thir- 
teen privateers that took part in the ill-fated Penob- 



1780. A YANKEE TRICK. 141 

scot expedition, and was destroyed hj her own 
people, August 14, 1779, to prevent her falling; into 
the hands of the enemy. 

Having received his baptism of fire in this well- 
named vessel, Haraden was not long in finding a 
suitable berth, and in the spring of 17S0 he sailed 
from Salem as commander of the 180-ton priva- 
teer Gciicnil PichriiHj, with a cargo of sugar for 
Bilboa. At that time this port was a famous ren- 
dezvous for privateers, not only of the United 
States, but for those of England and France. It 
was customary for our ships to sail for this place 
with a cargo of sugar, and capture a prize or two 
on the ])assage over if possible. After disposing of 
the sugar the privateers went on a general cruise 
uttov the enemy's merchantmen, filling their empty 
holds with such goods as they could readily move 
from a prize and returning to the United States, 
where the cargoes were sold to the best a<lvantage. 

On this passage over Haraden had an unusually 
exciting time. On ]May 29th he was attacked by a 
British cutter, but although his antagonist carried 
six guns more than he did Haraden, after a desper- 
ate fight of two hours, succeeded in beating the 
enemy off. As the Ge)in'al PichTinc/ entered the Bay 
of Biscay she fell in with the English privateer 
schooner Golden IJaglc, carrying twent^^-two guns 
and sixty men, the American mounting only sixteen 
cannon. Having come upon the Englishman at 
night and unobserved, and having formed a fairly ac- 
curate idea of her force, Haraden boldl}' ran along- 
side and called on the stranger to surrender, declar- 
ing at the same time that his craft was an American 
frigate of the largest class, and that he would blow 
the British privateer out of water if she did not 
surrender. 

This was no ill-considered threat on the part of 
the Gvucvdl Picl-criiiffs' commander, for less than a 
year before Captain John Paul Jones, in the Bon- 



IP2 JONATHAN HARADEN. 1780. 

hommc Bichard, bad sunk one of the finest frig-ates 
in the British navy, the Svrapis, within pistol-shot 
of the English coast, and such was the effect of that 
astounding achievement on the mind of the British 
public that the most extravagant stories as to the 
number and force of Yankee war ships, and as to 
their whereabouts and daring, found ready cre- 
dence. So when Ilaraden announced himself as hav- 
ing an " American frigate of the largest class " he 
well knew, from what he had learned of the con- 
sternation produced in (Ireat Britain by the unparal- 
leled victories of the American navy, that his con- 
fused (memy would be more than liktdy to believe 
it. Smdi proved to be the case, for the Englishmen 
were taken so completely by surprise that they were 
unable to make any defense, and promptly struck 
their fiag. When the British skipper came aboard 
the (i('ii(')-(il Pivl-criuij he expressed great humiliation 
at having given in to such an inferior force. But 
it was too late to repent, for Second Officer John 
Carnes had been sent aboard the (hthhu Eiu/lc with 
a prize crew, and soon had the Stars and Stripes 
waving at her gaff. 

It was only a few days after this that the General 
PivL-criii;/ gave battle to the Aehilles. Early in the 
morning of June od, when the American privateer 
was approaching Bilboa, a large sail Avas observed 
working out of that port. In(iuiring of his prisoner, 
the master of tlie captured schooner, Ilaraden was 
told that the stranger was the AeliiUes, a privateer 
of London, mounting fort^^-two guns and carrying 
one hundred and forty men. Thinking that this 
might be nun'ely a trick on the }»art of the com- 
mander of the (JohJeu Euijlv to induce the American 
to run away from the sail, or to surrender if he once 
found himself under the AchiUes\s guns, Haraden 
coolly rej)lied, " I shan't run from her," and boldly 
held on his course. The light wind prevented the 
vessels from coming together that day, but the 



1780. THE ACHILLES OPENS FIRE. I43 

Americans saw enough of the stranger to realize 
that they were in the presence of a powerful foe. 
Before sunset the AchUIcs — for such she proved to be 
— had recaptured the General Pielcer'uufs prize, and 
placing a crew^ aboard slowlj^ beat to a favorable 
position for attacking the Americans. Night com- 
ing on, the British deferred their attack until day- 
light so as make sure of the Yankee so nearly within 
their grasp. The presence of the powerful ArhUhfi 
did not in the least disturb Haraden,for it is recorded 
that he took a " sound night's sleep and recruited 
a boatswain and ciglit sailors from his prisoners 
in the morning, when they went to work on shore." 

By this time the news had spread that an Ameri- 
can and British war sliip, in full view of the land, 
were about to tight, and thousands of peo])le flocked 
down to the water's edge and occupied all vantage 
points, eager to witness a naval battle. Tlu\v were 
disappointed that day, but when day broke June 
4th it found the ships ready for action, and the sauie 
multitude of Spaniards again assembled and impa- 
tiently waited to see the contest. 

The British lost no time in beginning the attack, 
and shortly after daylight they bore down on the 
Yankees with confident hurrahs. But Ilaraden had 
made his preparations for defense with his usual 
skill. Availing himself of the conformation of the 
land and some shoals whi<di he knew to be in the 
vicinity, he placed his ship in such a position that 
the Englishman, in approaching, would be exposed 
to a raking fire from the (iciicrdl ['icl-ci-iiufs entire 
broadside. It so hap])(Mi(Ml that the wind gradually 
died out, just as the British were getting into effec- 
tive range, so that they w(M'e exposed to a murder- 
ous raking fire from the Americans mucli longer 
than they had counted upon. Still the English com- 
mander had a vastly sii]»erior force, and as it would 
never do for a British war shi]) to run away from an 
American of inferior strength, esjXM'ially when thou- 



^44 „ JONATHAN HARADEN. 17H0. 

sands of Spaniards wore watching every move, he 
bravely held on his course. 

After endnring the destructive fire from the 

. General Pielrr'nuj abont two hours, Avithout being 
able to gain his desired position, the British com- 
mander brought the head of his ship about and 
.opened with his broadside guns. Several efforts 
were made to bring the ships into closer quarters, 
but conscicms of the advantage his position gave 
him, and knowing that he had a brave foe with 
superior force to contend with, Ilaraden tenaciously 
maintained his tactics, and finally, after a battle of 
three hours, he comi)elled the Aeh'iUes to make sail 
to, escape. It is said that toward the close of the 
action Haraden, finding himself running short of 
ammunition, ordered his gunner to load with crow- 
bars, which had been taken out of a prize. This 
" flight of crowbars " produced the utmost con- 
sternation in the English craft, and is believed to 
have precipitated her retreat. The General Pickering 
vainly endeavored to come up with her. Haraden 
offered a large reward to the gunner who carried 
away one of the Englishman's spars, but for once 
Vthe man bcdiind the gun" was not equal to the 
emergency, and the AehiUen escaped. The Ameri- 
cans did succeed, however, in retaking their prize, 
which was carried safely into Bilboa. Aboard the 
Gohh'u Eaf/le were found a British prize crew and 
the S(M-ond officer of the AehiUes. 

So interested had the people on shore become in 
the battle that they took to boats and drew nearer 
and nearer to the contestants, until finally, toward 
the close of the action, the General Plelxerimj found 
herself literally surrounded by a wildly enthusiastic 

■ crowd. This impromptu escort of boats accom- 
panied tlu^ ])rivateer and her prize to their anchor- 
age in the harbor, and soon after they dropped an- 
chor it is stated that it was possible to have walked 
ashore over the craft of all kinds that swarmed 



1780. A CLEVER RUSE. 145 

about. Captain Haraden had orcasion to ^o ashore 
shortly afterward, and so great was the enthusiasm 
and admiration of the Spaniards over his heroic de- 
fense that they raised him bodily on their shoulders 
and bore him in triumph through the city. 

The venerable Robert Cowan, who witnessed this 
battle, said, shortly before he died : '' The Cieiicral 
PicJi-criiKj, in comparison with her antagonist, looked 
like a longboat by the side of a ship." Speaking of 
Haraden's conduct in the battle. Cowan said: "He 
fought with a determination that seemed super- 
human, and that, although in the most exposed posi- 
tions, where the shot flew around liini, he was all 
the while as calm and steady as amid a shower of 
snowflakes." 

Iweturuing to the I'^^nited States after this adven- 
ture Captain Haraden, in October, wliih^ off Sandy 
Ilook, fell in with three armed merchantmen — the 
ship Hope, carrying fourteen guns; the brig Po)iio)ie, 
of twelve guns; and the cutter Roi/al (ivonjv, of four- 
teen guns. By skillful maneuvering Haraden man- 
aged to separate the enemy, and after an exciting 
action of an hour and a half captured all of them. ~ 

During the Revolution Haraden captured vessels 
from the enemy the guns of which aggregated over 
one thousand. In one of his cruises, subsequent to 
his heroic fight with the Achilles, Haraden, still in 
command of his favorite ship, the General Pieln-hig/ 
fell in with a homeward-bound king's packet from 
one of the West India islands. This ship proved to 
be unusually heavily armed and manned, so that' 
after an action of four hours Haraden found it 
necessary to haul off to repair damages. He also 
discovered that he had expended all but one round 
of his ammunition. An ordinary commander of a 
ship, u.nder such circumstances as these, would have 
thought himself fortunate in retiring from the con- 
test with his colors flying. But Haraden was not 
an ordinary commander. He, like John Paul Jones, 



;[46 JONATHAN HARADEN. 1780. 

was one of those few seamen who are equal to any 
emergency, and who have the faculty of turning their 
misfortunes into the very instruments of success. 

Having repaired the damages as well as his lim- 
ited time and means would allow, he rammed home 
his last round of powder and shot, and boldly run- 
ning alongside his antagonist (juietly informed the 
Englislimen that he would give them exactly five 
minutes in whi<di to haul down their colors, and that 
if they did not do so at the expiration of tliat time 
he would send every man of them to the bottom of 
the sea. TIkmi running up the red flag, " no (piarter,'' 
h(» (Mtolly took out a timepiece, and standing where 
he could be ])lainly seen by the enemy he called out 
every few seconds the various lapses of time that 
had exj^ired. 

This singular summons had a peculiar effect on 
the minds of the Englishmen, whicli the shrewd 
American commander doubtless had calculated 
ui)on. The Englishman probably would have re- 
newe<l the battle, and would have fought to the last 
plank with his usual courage, had the Yankee gone 
about it in the customary blood-and-thunder way. 
But this sudden calm within short range (where the 
two crews were actually staring into one another's 
faces, and could almost shake hands across their bul- 
wai'ks), this dreadful susfx^nse before shotted guns, 
with a man holding a lighted match in one liand 
and a time])iece in the other, was too much for the 
nerves of the Englishmen, and before the ex])iration 
of the live minutes they hauled down their colors. 

ITaraden, in his live or six years lighting against 
the English, evidently had come to the conclusion 
rea«died by Napoleon some years later — namely, 
" that an Englishman never knows when he is 
whipped." In this case the American commander 
thought it best to give them five minutes in which 
to think it over. The wisdom of doing so is seen in 
the result, for there seems to have been no question 



1783. "SUFFICIENTLY AMUSED." 14Y 

about the packet's having been hopelessly beaten 
before the Gciicral Pickrr'utg hauled off for repairs, 
as, when the Americans went aboard to take pos- 
session, the}' found the decks of their prize covered 
with dead and wounded men and the blood was ooz- 
ing from the scuppers in a sluggish stream. 

Just two years after his extraordinary action 
with the AcMUcs, or on June 5, 1782, Haraden, then 
in command of the 14-gun ship Ca'sar, fell in with 
an armed ship and brig. Of course there was 
a fight right off, and for two hours neither side 
could gain a decisive advantage, when, as Captain 
Haraden quaintly remarked, " both parties sepa- 
rated, sufficiently amused.'' 



(UiArTEK XII. 

AN ESCAPE FKOM OLD MILL I'KISON. 

In the chapter ou " Navy Officers in Privateers " 
uieution was made of tlie capture of the armed brig 
PomoiKt, eommanded by ('ai)taiii Isaiah Robinson, of 
the navy, wlio had as his tirst officer Li(Mitenant 
Joshna iiarney, also of tlie re^nlar service. The ex- 
periences of the latter officer in British prisons were 
so extraordinary as to be deserving of special men- 
tion. On the capture of the Pomona, as related in 
the (dia])ter referred to, Barney was placed in one 
of the i)rison ships at Wale Bogt. The arrival of Ad- 
miral Byr<ni, who relieved Lord Howe as the com- 
mander in chief of the British naval forces on the 
American station, <lid nnudi to improve the condi- 
tion of these i)risoners. A few days after taking 
command, Byron visited the prison ships and or- 
dered several large, airy vessels to be fitted for the 
Americans, s])ecial accommodations and better food 
being reserved for the si(dv. Those officers who be- 
longed to the regular navy were taken aboard the 
war shi]»s, and some of them enjoyed the freedom of 
the tlagshi]) Anient. Admiral Byron made it a point 
to personally inspect the prison ships regularly 
every week, accom])anied by his fleet captain and 
secretary, and to inquire minutely into the conduct 
of the prisoners and listen to any complaints they 
had to make. 

Among the American officers who had the good 
fortune to come under the ministrations of Admiral 

"148 



1780. A MOB ATTACKS LIEUTENANT BARNEY. 14<» 

Hyron was Lieiiteiiaiit Barney. This odiccr was 
transferred to the Ardent, and one of his dnties was 
to visit the prison ships and report on their con- 
dition to the admiral. Barney' had a boat placed 
nnder his command, and was permitted to ^o ashore 
whenever he pleased, being reqnired only to sleep 
aboard the AnJciif. It was on one of his trips on 
shore that Barney fonnd he was safer in the hands 
of his captors than anioni;- the townsfolk. lie 
had been invited to breakfast ashore with Sii- Wil- 
liam Tevisden, one of the admiral's aids, and had 
landed for that purpose, when he was roni;hly seized 
b}' a mob of men and boys. It seems that a large 
tire had broken out in New York and was raging 
at the time the lieutenant landed. Being dressed 
in the full American naval uniform, a crowd im- 
mediately set upon him, and, accusing him of having 
originated the tire, proceeded to throw him into the 
flames. The threat undoubtedly would hav<' been 
carried out had it not been for the interv(Mition of a 
British officer. Even then the mob declared that 
the lieutenant's explanation of having just landed 
for the purpose of breakfasting with Sir William 
Tevisden was a hoax, and it was not until, at the 
suggestion of the British officer, they had |)roceeded 
to the aid's house and heard the story from his lii)s 
that Lieutenant Barney was released. 

Unfortunately for the American prisoners Ad- 
miral Byron was soon su])erseded by Admiral Kod- 
ney, who, in December, 1780, ordered the (M-gun 
ship of the line Yarmouth, Captain Lutwidge — the 
same that blew up the RaiuJnJph two years "before ^ — 
to transport seventy-one officers to England, Barney 
being among them. From the time these Americans 
stepped aboard the Yurtnouth their captors gave it 
to be understood, by hints and innuendoes, that they 
were beina- taken to Eniiland to " be hanoed as 



* 

* See IMaclay's History of the Ignited States Navy, vol. i. pp. 83-85. 



150 AN ESCAPE FROM OLD MILL PRISON. 1781. 

rebels " ; and, indeed, the treatment they received 
aboard the Yarmouih on the passage over led them 
to believe that the British officers intended to cheat 
the ^allows of their prey by cansin<>- the prisoners 
to die before reaching port. On coming aboard the 
ship of the line these officers were stowed away in 
the lower hold, next to the keel, under five decks, 
and many feet below the water line. Here in a 
twelve-by-twenty-foot room with npcurving floor, 
and only three feet high, the seventy-one men were 
stowed for lifty-three days like so much merchandise, 
without light or good air, unable to stand upright, 
with no means and with no attempt made to remove 
the accumulating filth! TluMr food was of the poor- 
est quality, and was supplied in such insufficient 
quantities that whenever one of the prisoners died 
the survivors concealed the fact until the body b(\gan 
to putrify in order that the dead man's allowance 
might be added to theirs. The water served them 
for drink was so thiidc with repulsive matter that 
the prisoners were com]»('lled to strain it Ix^ween 
set tcH'th. 

From the time the Y<niii<iiilh left New York till 
she reached riymoutli, in a most teni]»estuous win- 
ter's passage, tlu^se men wore ke]>t in this loathsome 
dungeon. Kh^ven died in delirium, their wild ravings 
and i)ierciug shrieks a])i»alling their comrades, and 
giving them a foretaste^ of what they themselves 
might soon expect. Not even a surgeon was per- 
mitted to visit them. Arriving at Plymouth the pale, 
emaciated, festering men were ordered to come on 
deck. Not one obeyed, for they were unabh^ to stand 
upright. Consequently they were hoisted up, the 
ceremony being grimly suggestive of the manner in 
which they had been treated — like merchandise. And 
what were they to do, now that they had been placed 
on deck? The light of the sun, whitdi they had 
scarcely seen for tifty-thr<H^ davs, fell upon their 
weak, dilated pupils with blinding force, their limbs 



1781. BRUTAL TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. 151 

unable to uphold them, their frames wasted by dis- 
ease and want, i^eeking for support tliev fell in a 
helpless mass, one upon the other, waiting and al- 
most hopin.i;- for the blow that was to fall u])()n them 
next. Captain Silas Talbot was one of these pris- 
oners.^ 

To send them ashore in this conditi**]! was " im- 
practicable," so the British ofticers said, and we 
readily discoyer that this " impracticable " seryed 
the further pur])(>se of diyerting the just indigna- 
tion of the landsfolk, which surely would be aroused 
if they saw such brutality practiced under St. 
Geori;e's cross. Waiting', then, until the captiyes 
could at least endure the light of day, and could 
walk without leaning on one another or clutidiing at 
eyery object for support, the officers had them 
moyed to Old ^Nlill Prison. Nor must it be forgotten 
that these Ayeak captiyes were thus moyed with a 
" strong military guard '' — certainly not to preyent 
their escape; probably to guard against the curious 
gaze of the people. First they w^ere taken before 
a certain tribunal — whether military or ciyic the 
prisoners did not know — Ayhere a number of ques- 
tions Ayere put to them, the words " reyolt," " al- 
legiance," " rebels,'' predominating, after which they 
wei-e taken to the })rison. 

^lill Prison was a massiye stone building in the 
center of an extensiye court. The court was sur- 
rounded by a high wall, and twenty feet b(\yond that 
was another wall, parallel to the first, complotely 
surrounding it. The only apertures in these walls 
were a gate in each, the inner one being formed with 
massiy(^ iron bars eight feet high. The outer gate 
during the day usually was left open so as to albtw 
free communication between the keepers ami llioir 
dwellings which were placed just outside the outer 
wall. Between eight o'cdock in the morning and 

' See page 111. 



152 AN ESCAPE FROM OLD MILL PRISON. 1781. 

sunset the prisoners were allowed the privilege of 
the inner court, but at night they were securely 
locked in the prison house. Many sentinels were 
stationed among the prisoners in the inner court 
and in the prison itself, besides the regular patrols 
on the two encircling walls and at the gates. 

To the unfortunate Americans who had just ar- 
rived from the Yarmouth this place seemed a para- 
dise, for at Mill Prison they could at least get light, 
air, and exercise. Yet even here there were many 
causes for complaint, for the American prisoners 
seem to have been picked out for severe treatment. 
It was shown that they were " treated with less hu- 
manity than the French and Spaniards, . . . they had 
not a sufficient allowance of bread, and were very 
scantily furnished with clothing."^ In 1781 the 
Duke of liichmond presented a memorial to the 
House of Peers. " Several motions were grounded 
on these petitions, but those proposed by the lords 
and gentlemen in the Opposition were determined 
in Ihe negative; and others, to exculpate the Gov- 
ernuKMit in this business, were resolved in the 
affirmative. It appeared upon inquiry that the 
American prisoners were allowed half a pound of 
bread less per day than the French and Spanish 
prisoners. But the petition of the Americans pro- 
duced no alterations in their favor, and the con- 
duct of the administration was equally impolitic and 
illiberal." - 

Many attempts to escape were made by the 
Americans during the period of their confinement in 
Mill Prison, and some of them were successful. On 
one occasion a number of them volunteered to at- 
tempt escape through the common sewer that emp- 
tied into the river. Several days and nights were 
s]ient in sawing the iron bars that guarded the en- 
trance to the sewer, and when an opening was made 

> British Anni;al Register for 1781, p. 152. ^ Ibid. 



1781. BARNEY'S PLAN TO ESCAPPl I53 

it was agreed that a few of tlie prisoners should 
endeavor to escape throujuii it, and if they did not 
return in a given time it was to be understood that 
they had been successful and that (dhers might fol- 
low. The pioneers in this attempt were lowered into 
the foul hole, an<l liad waded several hundred feet in 
the dark ])nssag<% when they f(»und a double iron 
grating, whi(di they in vain endeavored to remove. 
They returned to their com]»anions more dead than 
alive, and that method of escape was abandoniMt. 

Barney soon came to be suspected as a bold and 
dangerous prisoner, and at one time was placed in 
heavy double irons and conflned thirty days in a dark 
dungeon for a '' suspected '' attempt to escai)e. This 
solitary confineineut dettn-mined him to effect his es- 
cape at the earliest moment possible. Kealizing that 
he was watcdied more tlian any of the other prison- 
ers, Barney resorted to a nisc to deceive his keepers. 

When the common liberty of the yard was al- 
lowed the prisoners, it was their custom to while 
away their time Avith athletic games. Indulging in 
a game of leapfrog with liis companions one day 
Barney pretended to have sprained his ankle, and 
for some time after that walked about with crutches. 
This seems to have thrown the jailers entirely off 
their guard, and, indeed, so well was the deception 
kept up that only a few of' Barney's most intimate 
companions knew of the trick. 

Among the soldiers who liad been detailed to 
guard ]Mill Pi-ison at this time was a man who had 
served in the British army in the Unit(Ml States. It 
seems that he had received some kindness from the 
Americans, and he now delighted in showing civility 
to the prisoners from that country. Barney soon 
discovered this, and managed to hold several con- 
versations with the soldier, which resulted in a warm 
friendship springing up between them. On May 18, 
1781, it Avas this soldier's turn to mount guard be- 
tween the two gates of the inner and outer walls 

13 



154 -^^' ESCAPE EROM OLD MILL PRISON. 1781. 

of the prison, already deseribed, his hours being 
from noon till two o'clock. Some kind of an nnder- 
standinji' had been reached betAveen them, and on 
the day mentioned Barney, hobbling about on his 
crut(dies, gradually drew near the gate, and, ob- 
serving that no one was near, he whispered inter- 
rogativtdy through the bars, "To-day?" to which 
the soldier replied, in a low tone, " Dinner." From 
this answer Barney knew that one o'clock was 
meant, for at that hour all the jailers took dinner, 
leaving only the sentinels on guard. 

Hastening to his cell Barney put on the undress 
uniform of a British ofticer, which he had secured 
from the friendly sentinel, and threw over it his 
greatcoat. This coat he had been wearing about 
the prison since the " spraining " of his ankle, so 
that he would not "^ catch cold." As a matter of fact, 
Barne}- had Avorn the coat so as to accustom the 
jaihM'S at seeing him in it, for it reached quite down 
to his he<ds and entirelj^ concealed any dress or 
uniform that he might choose to wear. Having made 
this changes Barney stepped out of his cell, though 
still using his crutches, and sought the confidential 
friends who were to assist him in his escape. At 
a given signal these friends repaired to different 
inirts of the yard and engaged the various sentinels 
in c(mversati(ni so that t^iey would not see what was 
going on at the gates. 

Observing that everything was ready, Barney 
cast aside his crutches, entered the court, and boldly 
walked toAvard the gate. Here he exchanged a 
wink Avitli the English sentinel, from Avhich he knew 
that all Avas right. Beside the gate stood a tall, mus- 
cular man, a prisoner, an accomplice of Barney's. 
AYitli the agility of a cat, Barney sprang upon this 
man's shoulders and then over the Avail. It took 
him but an instant to Avhip oif his greatcoat and' 
tlircnv it over his arm, and thrusting four guineas 
into the hand of the friendlv sentinel he started 




£^m 



Barney's escape from Jlill Prison. 



1781. FLIGHT IN A FISHING SMACK. 155 

toward the outer gate, which, as usual, was standing 
open. The back of the guardian of the outer gate was 
turned, so that Barney passed through unchallenged. 
Walking leisurely down the road he, in a few min- 
utes, arrived at the house of a well-known friend to 
the American cause. 

The sudden appearance of a man dressed in the 
uniform of a British officer at the door of this 
house startled the inmates, which was not lessc^ned 
when Barney explained who he was, for to harbor 
an escaped prisoner was high treason, esi)ecially 
when the American sentiments of that family were 
so well known to the officials. Notwithstanding this, 
the good people consented to hide the prisoner for 
the day. Contrary to their fears, no inquiry was 
made for Barney that day, for his absence had not yet 
been discovered. With a view of having his escape 
unknown to the prison officials as long as possible, 
Barney had arranged with a slender youth (wlio was 
able to creep through the Avindow bars at pk^as- 
ure) to crawl through the aperture so as to an- 
swer to Barney's name in his cell every day at 
roll call. In the evening Barney was taken to the 
house of his host's father, a venerable clergyman 
of Pl^'inouth, where it was customary for Ameri- 
cans, whether free or in bondage, to resort. Here 
he found two friends from his native State, New 
Jersey, Colonel William Richardson and Dr. Ilind- 
nian, who, with their servant, had been taken as 
passengers in a merchantman, and were awaiting 
an opportunity to return to America. 

Arrangements were soon made to purchase a fish- 
ing smack, in which they Avere to make their way to 
I'^'rance, where they had a much better chance to 
secure passage to the United States. A suitable 
craft was secured, and the two gentlemen, with their 
servant, slept in it that night. Among the efl'ects 
of the servant Barney found a suit of rough clothes, 
Avhich he put on over his uniform, as being bet- 



1^56 AN ESCAPE FROM OLD MILL PRISON. 1781. 

ler adapted for cai'rvinjj;' out the role of fisher- 
man he was about to assume. Then with an old 
overcoat tied around the waist, a tarpaulin hat, 
and a " knowin^i' tie," made with a handkerchief 
around liis neck, he looked fairlj like a fisherman, 
and at daybnnik he joined his countrymen in the 
smack. 

No time was lost in getting;' under way, for at 
any moment Barney's escai^e mi<>lit be discovered, 
and as the alarm would immediately be oiven to Ad- 
miral Digby's fleet, which was anchored in the 
mouth of the river, the closest inspection would 
be made of every craft passin^' out. As not one of 
Barne.y's companions knew how to handle a rope, 
all the work of navigating the craft devolved upon 
him, but as he was a thorough seaman he soon had 
the smack standing down the river. With a fine 
breeze and ebbing tide the adventurers were soon 
in the midst of the formidable fleet of war vessels, 
the frowning batteries of which yawned at them in 
sullen silence, while the sentinels paced to and fro, 
casting unsuspicious glances at the innocent-look- 
ing craft. With the fleet safely behind him, Barney 
boldly stood out to sea and made for the French 
coast. His companions were more helpless now 
even than before, as they were prostrated by sea- 
sickness, so that the entire safety of the party was in 
the hands of the lieutenant. 

Just as the shores of England began to fade, 
and the adventurers were congratulating them- 
selves on their escape, a sail loomed up on the hori- 
zon, and was soon made out to be a swift-sailing 
vessel evidently in pursuit of the smack. In a few 
minutes she had come alongside, and, after ordering 
the craft to heave to, sent a boat aboard with an 
ofiflcer. The sail proved to be a privateer, out from 
(ruernsey, and to her officer's demand of what w^as 
on board the smack, and where she was bound. Lieu- 
tenant Barney replied: 



1781. DETAINED BY A PRIVATEERSMAN. I57 

" I have nothing' on board, and am bound to the 
coast of France." 

" Yonr bnsiness there? " asked the officer. 

"I can not disclose to you my business;" and 
iintTing the rope that bound liis greatcoat around 
him Barney showed his British uniform. The sight 
of tlie uniform had its desired effect. Tlie ])riva- 
teersman instantly changed his commanding tone 
to one of respect and touched his hat. Following 
up his advantage Barney said, in a severe tone: 

''Sir, I must not be detained; my business is 
urgent, and you must suffer me to proceed or you 
will, perhaps, find cause to regret it." To this the 
boarding officer politely replied that he would im- 
mediately go aboard and report to his commander. 
This he did, but in a few minutes the captain of the 
privateer himself came aboard, and, though very 
polite, he desired to know what business could carry 
a British officer to the enemy's coast: 

"■ I should be very sorry to stop you, sir," he said, 
''if you are on public business; and if this be the 
fact it must surely be in your power to give me 
some proof of it without disclosing the secrets of 
Government, which I have no desire to know." 

Barney repli(Ml tliat to show him sucli proofs 
would be to hazard the success of his mission, whi(d] 
dep<'nd(Ml entii'cly on its being kept absolutely 
secret from all save thosc^ intrusted in its execution. 

" Then, sir," replied the privateersman, " I shall 
be under the necessity of carrying you to Fngland." 

" Do as you please," said Barney calmly, " but, 
remember, it is at your peril. All I have to say fur- 
ther, sir, is that if you persist in interrupting my 
voyage I must demand of you to carry m<^ directly 
on board Admiral Digby's flagship, at Plymouth." 

The American officer well knew that this was 
an unpleasant request for the privateersman, for if 
he ventured in the fleet he might expect to be re- 
lieved of some of his crew by the admiraFs press 



158 AN ESCAPE FROM OLD MILL PRISON. 1781. 

gangs, Avho were coustantly on the lookout for 
men. Barney hoped this would induce the priva- 
teei'snian to let him go, and in fact the Englishman 
did hesitate for a few minutes. Barney followed up 
the stroke by commenting on the fine, manly ap- 
pearance of the privateer's crew. But all to no pur- 
pose, the Englishman deciding to take them to Plym- 
outh. 

All that night the two vessels were beating their 
way back to the English coast, and on the following 
morning entered a small port about six miles from 
Plymouth. Here the English commander, leaving 
Barney aboard the privateer, went ashore to make 
his report to Admiral Digby, and under pretense of 
keeping out of the way of press gangs nearly all the 
crew went ashore also. The few that remained 
aboard treated Barney Avith the respect due to his 
assumed character and he was allowed every lib- 
erty save that of going ashore. Seizing a favorable 
opportunity, when those aboard were at dinner, 
Barney slid down a rope over the stern and got into 
a boat. In doing this he badly injured his leg, but 
unmindful of the pain he rapidly sculled ashore un- 
seen by any of the privateersmen. 

As he api)r()ached the beacli many of the idlers 
came to the landing to watch him, but made no at- 
t(Mnpt to interfere. Boldly jumping ashore he called 
for ai<l to haul his boat up. Several responded, when 
Barney was staj'tled by a loud voice calling out: 

" ITollo there! Whore did you catch her? What 
has she got aboard? " 

Looking around Barney saw that he was ad- 
dressed by the customhouse officer. He soon satis- 
fied that im]>ortant person that he had nothing of 
a contraband nature, and complaining of the liurt 
on liis leg — tlie blood now plainly oozing out from 
his stocking — he made that an excuse for hurrying 
away to get " something onto it." Before leaving, 
however, he dispelled whatever suspicions might 



1781. BACK IN PLYMOLTTH AGAIN. 159 

have been lingering in tlie customhouse officer's mind 
by aslving : 

" Pray, sir, can you tell me where our people 



are 



? '' 



" I think, sir, you'll find them all at the K(m1 Lion, 
the very last house in the village." 

" Thank you, sir. I wish you a very good morn- 
ing; " and with that the American walked off in the 
direction indicated. 

It was the least of Barney's desires to meet any 
of '' our people," but he found that there was only 
one street in the village, so that he was compelled 
to pass the Ked Lion. He passed the tavern un- 
perceived, as he thought, but just as he had turned 
the corner he heard a gruff voice calling after him: 

"Hollo, lieutenant! I'm glad you're come 
ashore. We was jist some on us to off arter you." 

"And what for, pray?" asked Barney with con- 
siderable uneasiness. 

" Why, may be as how some on us might ship if 
we knowed a thing or two." 

Barney saw at once that his assumed disguise 
had gained full credence among the sailors in the 
privateers, and that some of them believed, through 
his interest, they could get better berths in Admiral 
Digby's fleet. Engaging the man in conversation, 
and at the same time walking rapidly away from 
the Bed Lion so as to get away from the rest of 
the men, Barney gave encouragement to the sea- 
man's idea of shipping in the fleet, when the latter 
suddenly asked: 

" Where are you going? " 

" To Plymouth. Come, you might as well go along 
with me." 

The tar hesitated a moment, seemed to think 
better of his plan of entering a navy noted for its 
cruelty to seamen, and finally said he'd go back to 
his old shipmates. 

As soon as the tar was out of sight, Barney 



160 AN ESCAPE FROM OLD MILL PRISON. 1781. 

qnickened his pace into a run lest lie be overtaken 
by others of the crew. Eealizing, also, that as soon 
as the captain of the privateer had explained his 
capture to Admiral Dii^by his escape from the 
prison would in all probability be discovered, and 
a i^nard be sent to secure him, he deemed it advis- 
able to jnmp over a hedj^e and seclnde himself in a 
l>rivate warden. This precaution was donbly neces- 
sary, as the hijihway (tn which he was traveling was 
the direct ronte from Plymonth, and the one a guard 
would take in coming for him. 

On leaping over the hedge he found himself in 
the su])ei'b private grounds of Lord Edgecombe. 
Wandering about in search of the servants' house, 
he was discovered by the gardener, who was much 
incensed by the intrusion. Barney pacified him by 
explaining that he had injured his leg and was seek- 
ing the shortest way to Plymouth. Giving the gar- 
dener a tip, Barney was conducted to a private gate 
opening on the river, and hailing a butcher who 
was going by in a small wherry with tAvo sheep to 
market our adventurer got aboai-d. By this means 
Barney avoided the necessity of crossing the river 
by the ])ublic ferry, and also that of passing b}^ Mill 
Prison aud of a (diance of meeting the guard. 

ImuHMliately on receiving the report of the priva- 
teer's commander, Admiral Digby caused an inquiry 
to be made in all the prisons and places of confine- 
ment in or near Plymouth, and at the time Barney 
was sliding down the rop(^ over the privateer's stern 
to get into a boat his esca])e from ^Nfill Prison was 
discovered; and at the moment he passed through 
Lord Edgecombe's private gate to the riverside the 
tramp of the soldiers — all of whom were familiar 
with Barney — was heard passing the very hedge he 
had just vaulted over on their way to take him back 
to ])rison. 

That night ]>arney gained the house of the ven- 
erable ( leriivman that he had left onlv the morn- 



1781. PASSING THE SENTRY. 161 

iiig' before. The same evening Colonel Richardson 
and Dr. Hindman arrived at this honse also, having 
been released from the privateer after the guard 
from ^lill Prison had inspected them. While these 
fugitives were seated at supper laugliing and jok- 
ing over their liai)less adventures, tlie bell of the 
toAvn-crier was heard under the windows, and the 
reward of live guineas for the apj)reh(Mision of 
Joshua Barney, a reb(d deserter from ^lill Pi-ison, 
was pro(daimed. For a moment it was thought tliat 
the prochimation was ad<lressed to this particuhir 
house, and that a military guard would follow to 
search the premises; but in a few^ minutes tlie bell 
and voice began to die away in the distance, and 
finally could be heard no more. 

Three days longer the fugitive remained in his 
place of concealment, by which time a fashionable 
suit of (dothes was procured for liim and a post 
(diaise was engaged to take him to Exeter. At mid- 
night Barney, accompanied by one of the clergy- 
man's sons, repaired to the secluded spot Avliere the 
vehicde was in waiting, and bidding farewell to his 
fi-iends stepped in and was rapidly driven away. 
Reaching the gate of tlie town they were brought 
to by a stern " Halt! " from the sentry. The driver 
obeyed, and in a moment an officer thrust a lantern 
into the carriage and began reading aloud the exact 
descri])tion of tlie person and dress Barney had 
worn in his escape from the prison. Of course the 
dress had been changed, and Barney succeeded so 
w(dl in distorting his features that the facial de- 
scription did not fit, so with an apology the officer 
allowed the post chaise to proceed. At Exeter our 
adventurer took the stage to Bristol, and from there 
made his way to London, France, and Ilidland. 

Tn Holland Barney secured passage in the armed 
shi]) Soitlli ('(iroJiiKi, (''a])tain Gillon. We get an in- 
teresting side light on P)arn<\v's ability as a seaman 
from the diary of John Trumbull, the famous 



1(32 AN ESCAPE FROM OLD MILL PRISON. 1781. 

paiuter. " The want of fuuds or credit,"' says Trum- 
bull, " and the dread of those who had advanced 
money on her [the ^^outh CaroVuia's] outfit occa- 
sioned her officers — after she had been permitted to 
drop doAvu to the Texel — to run her out of the Roads, 
and to anchor outside, beyond the jurisdiction of 
the port, at a distance of more than a league from 
land. Here several of us passengers went on board, 
and on the 12tli of August [1781], soon after sun- 
rise, the wind began to blow from the northwest, 
directly on shore, with every appearance of a heavy 
gal(\ The proper thing to have done was to have 
run back into the Texel Roads, but that we dared 
not do lest the ship should be seized. We dared not 
run for the English Channel lest we should fall in 
with British cruisers of superior force. The gale 
soon increased to such a degree that it would have 
been madness to remain at anchor on such a lee 
shore. The only thing which could be done, there- 
fore, was to lay the ship's head to the northeast and 
carry ^ail. A fog soon came on, so thick that we 
could hardly see from stem to stern; the gale in- 
ci-eased to a very hurricane, and soon brought us to 
close-reefed topsails; the coast of Holland was 
under our lee, and we knew that we were running 
u})on the very edge of the sands, which extended so 
far from tlie shore that if the ship should touch 
she must go to pieces before we could even see the 
land and all hands must perish. We passed the 
morning in the (leei)est anxiety; in the afternoon 
we discovered that we had started several of the 
bolts of the weatlu^r main chain plates. This forced 
us to take in our close-reefed topsails, as the masts 
would no longer bear the strain of any sail aloft, and 
we were obliged to rely upon a reefed foresail. By 
til is time we knew that Ave must be not far from 
Heligoland, at the mouth of the Elbe, where the 
coast begins to trend northward, which increased 
the danger. At t(Mi o'clock at night a squall struck 



1781. BARNEY SAVES THE SOUTH CAROLINA. 163 

US, heavier than the gale, aiid threw our only sail 
aback; the ship became unmanageable, the officers 
lost their self-possession, and the crew all confi- 
dence in them, while for a few minutes all was con- 
fusion and dismay. Happilj- for us, Commodore 
Rarne}' was among the passengers — he had just 
escaped from ^fill Prison, in England. Hearing the 
increased tumult aloft, and feeling the ungovcrned 
motion of the ship, he flew upon deck, saw the dan- 
ger, assumed command, the men obeyed, and he 
soon had her again under control. It was found 
that with the squall the wind had shifted several 
points, so that on the other tnvk we could lay a safe 
course to the westward, and thus relieve our main- 
mast. That our danger was imminent no one will 
doubt when informed that on the following morn- 
ing the shore of the Texel Island was covered with 
the wreck of sliii)s whicdi were afterward ascer- 
tained to have been Swedish; among them was a 
ship of seventy-four guns, convoying twelve mer- 
chantmen — all were wrecked and eveiw soul on 
board perished. The figurehead of the ship of war, 
a yellow lion, the same as ours, was found upon the 
shore, and gave sad cause to our friends for believ- 
ing, for some time, that the ^^ouflt (UifoVum had per- 
ished.'" 

When the gale subsided the ><i)Hth (Un-olhui made 
the Orkneys, and when off Faroe encountered an- 
other terrific gale, wliidi, together with a deficiency 
of provisions, induced (lillou to run into Coruua, 
Spain. " There," continues Trumbull, '' we found 
the Cicero [Captain Hill], a fine letter-of-marque 
shi]) of twenty guns and one hundred and twenty 
men, belougiug to 1 he house of Cabot, in Beverly, 
Massachusetts. [On her outward passage this pri- 
vateer had made several valuable prizes, which were 
disposed of in Si>ain.] Site was to sail immediately 
for Bilboa, there to take a cargo on board which 
was h'ing ready for her, and to sail to America. Sev- 



164 AN ESCAPE FROM OLD MILL PRISON. 1781. 

era! of lis — among whom wore Major Jat-ksou, who 
had been secretary to Colonel John Laurens in his 
late mission to France, Captain Barney, Mr. Brom- 
field, and Charles Adams — tired of the management 
of the l>(()uth (UiroliiKi, endeavored to get a passage to 
liilboa on board of this ship, and were permitted 
to go on board their [the C/rr/v/.v] prize, a tine Brit- 
isli Lisbon pacdcet. The usual time required to run 
from Ciu'una to Bilboa was two to three days. We 
were again unfortunate; the wind being east, dead 
ahead, we were twenty-one days in making the pas- 
sage. . . . At the end of eighteen days we fell in 
with a little fleet of Spanish coasters and fishermen, 
running to the westward before the wind, who told 
us that when off the bar of Bilboa they had seen 
a ship and two brigs, wliicdi tlu^A' believed to be Brit- 
ish cruisers, and cautioned us to keep a good look- 
out. Captain Hill immediately hailed his prize, a 
ship of sixteen guns, and a fine brig of sixteen guns, 
which was also in com])any, and directed them to 
k('c]> close to him and ])r<'])are to uhm^ an enemy. 
At sunset we saw whal a]»]»('ar(Ml to be the force 
described, and about midnight found we were within 
hail. The Cn-cro ran (dose alongsi<le of the shi]> and 
hailed her in English — no answer; in Frencdi — no 
answer. Tlu^ men who were at their guns, impa- 
tient of d<day, did not wait for orders, but ])oured 
in her a broadside; the hostile scpiadron — as we sup- 
posed them — separated and made all sail in differ- 
ent directions, when a boat from the large ship came 
alongside Avith her cai)tain, a S])aniard, who in- 
formed us that they w<n'e Spanish vessels from St. 
Sebastian, bound for the West Indies; that his ship 
was vei-y nundi cut in her rigging, but hai»pily no 
lives lost. He had mistak(^n us for British vessels 
and was dcdighted to find his mistake. We apolo- 
gized for ours, offered assistance, etc., and we parted 
most amicably. Soon after we entered the river of 
Bilboa and ran up to Porto O alette. The disabled 



1781. THE CICERO ATTACKS SPANIARDS. 165 

[Spanish] ship, with her eoiiirades, put into Corufia, 
where it was found that one of our 9-i)ound shot had 
wounded the niaininast of our antagonist so severe- 
ly that it was necessary to take it — the mast — out 
and put in a new one. This was not the worlv of a 
day, and \nn' consorts were detained until their llag- 
ship was ready. Meantime we had almost com- 
puted taking in our cargo at Bilboa, when a mes- 
senger from ^ladrid arrived with orders to unhang 
the rudders of all American ships in the port until 
the bill for repairs of the wounded ship, demurrage 
of her consorts, etc., were paid." 

When the Cicero finally got away she made 
directly for America, and, after narrowly escaping 
shipwreck on Cape Ann, gained the port of Beverly, 
'' where we found," continues Trumbull, '' eleven 
other ships, all larger and finer than the Clvvro — all 
belonging to the same owners, the brothers Cabot — 
laid up for the winter. Yet such are the vicissitudes 
of war and the elements that before the close of 
the year they were all lost b}^ capture or wreck, and 
the house of Cabot had not a single ship afloat upon 
the ocean." At Beverly Lieutenant Barney received 
an offer from the Messrs. Cabot to command a fine 
privateer ship of twenty guns, but he declined. At 
Boston he met several of his fellow-prisoners who 
also had effected their escape from Mill Prison. 
After this Barney proceeded to Philadeljihia and as- 
sumed command of the Ifi/dcr Alli/, in which he 
fought one of the most remarkable battles of the 
war.^ 

Two years after the miraculous escape of Lieu- 
tenant Barney from ]Mill Prison he again visited 
Plymouth, then as captain of the United States 
frigate General Wa.sli'uH/toii. lie took occasion to 
give a dinner aboard his ship, at which his friends 
who aided in his escape, besides all the Britisli ofii- 



' See chapter xiv, Career of the General Washington. 



106 AN ESCAPE PROM OLD MILL PRISON. 178L 

cers in the town aud on the station, attended. Bar- 
ney' learned that the manner of his escape still re- 
mained a nnstery to the prison officials, and no sus- 
picion had attached to those who aided him. He 
also visited the gardener who unconsciously had 
been instrumental in saving the fugitive from re- 
capture, and gave him a purse of gold. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

CRUISE OF DK. SOLOMON DROWXE. 

That all classes of society in the North Ameri- 
can colonies Avere infliUMiced by the " craze for priva- 
teering " has been anii)lY demonstrated in the fore- 
jLi'oinji,- paj^es. In the chapter on A Boy Priyateers- 
man we followed the adyentnres of a farmer's lad, 
in the career of Silas Talbot we have seen how an 
army officer and a company of soldiers conld con- 
dnct themselyes aboard a private armed craft, and 
in the extracts bearing on Joshna Davis we have 
discovered creditable fighting capacities in a bar- 
ber's apprentice. In the private journal of Dr. Solo- 
mon Drowne we have perhaps one of the most satis- 
factory accounts of a privateering cruise during the 
Revolution, and, being written by a man of educa- 
tion, having a keen eye to matters of human interest, 
the record is given rcrhatim. Dr. Drowne was born 
in Providence, Rhode Island, March 11, 175.'^, Avas 
graduated from Brown l^niversity in 1773, and com- 
pleted his medical studies in the University of Penn- 
sylvania. He served in the Continental army as sur- 
geon throughout the war — excepting the seventeen 
days he imprudently ventured on the high seas — and 
afterward became professor of botany in Brown ITni- 
versity. 

This journal has been preserved through the 
efforts of two youthful " amateurs in the black art," 
Henry Russell Drowne and Charles L. ]\Ioreau, who 
printed the manuscript on private press(^s in 1S72. 

167 



1(^,8 CRCISE OF DR. SOLOMON DROWNE. 1780. 

Ill a letter t(> the Hon. John Russell Rartlett, of 
Providence, Rhode Island, vonug Drowiie says: " As 
yon are interested in the blaek art, I beg yoiir ae- 
ceptanee of a copy of Dr. Drowne's journal, in 1780, 
on the Hope, from the undersigned, his great grand- 
son. It was printed by two boys, ■Master Moroau and 
myself, both novices in the art." The original mann- 
scri])t of Dr. Drowne's journal was prepared for 
these yonng Fraidvlins by lleiiry Thayer Drowne, 
brother of Dr. Solomon Drowne, together with a few 
explanatory notes; and the result is one of the most 
complete records of a privateering cruise during the 
war for iiidep(^iideiice. 

" An emergency at home," says Mr. IT. T. Drowne, 
''caused him [Dr. Solomon Drowne] to embark as 
surgeon in the 7/o/>c." This privateer was a sloop, 
mounting seven guns, with a complement of twenty 
men, undia* the command of (""aptain J. ^lunroe, and 
was fitted out for a cruise at Providence, Rhode 
Island, in the fall of 1780. " Tuesday, October 3d,'' 
writes Dr. Drowne in his journal, " [we] sailed from 
Providence on board the sloop Hope. Wind at north- 
east, drizzly, dirty weather. Outsailed ^Ir. John 
Rrown [one of the leading shipowners in Rhode 
Island] in his famous boat. Put about for Captain 

^luni'oe and take ]Mr. Rrown and Caiitain S 

Smith on boar<l, who dine with us. Some time after 
noon Captain ^runroe comes on board and a few 
glasses of good wishes, founded on the //o/>c, having 
circled, (Vdonel Nightingale, etc., depart and we pro- 
ceed on our course. Toward evening come to anchor 
between Dutch Island and Conanicut [opposite New- 
port] to get in readiness for the sea. [I] officiate as 
clerk, copying articles, etc. 

" October Itli. — This morning sail from Dutch 
Island harbor. At 7 a. m. pass the lighthouse walls 
on Reaver Tail. Wind northeast, hazy weather. A 
heavy sea from the southw^ard. I begin to be exces- 
sively seasick, but do not take my station upon the 



1780. A HEAVY GALE. 160 

lee quarter till that side is pretty well manned. 
[Evidently a large portion of the Hope's crew were 
rendered helpless by this evil of the sea, and we can 
not but admire the doughty doctor in holding out 
so long as lie did. — E. S. M.] This is a sickness that 
is indeed enough to depress the spirits even of the 
brave. 

''October 5th. — Fresh breezes and cloudy. Treble 
reef mainsail. Excessive sickness. Hove to. A 
heavy sea, with scjualls of rain. 

"• October Oth. — [I] keep the cabin. Strong gales 
and s(]ually; still lying by. Saw a ship and made 
sail from her, then brought to again. 

''October 7th. — Get the topmast down; balance 
the mainsail and lie to. Put our guns in the hold, etc. 
[In the] afternoon the gale becomes violent. Only 
one long-practiced seaman on board avIio says he 
ever knew it more tempestuous. Nail down our 
hatches and secure everything in the best manner 
possible. [We] have a hole cut through the store- 
room to oi)en a communication fore and aft below 
the deck. The storm increases. Ship a sea, which 
carries away some of our crane irons [davits]. Get 
oui* axes into the cabin, ready to cut away the mast 
should there be occasion. A becoming fortitude in 
general ])redominates on board, though horror stalks 
around. They who go down to the sea in ships do 
indeed see the wonders of the Lord in the deep. The 
description of a tempest, translated by Roileau from 
Longiniis, occurs to my mind with peculiar energy: 

' Comme Ton volt les flots, souleves pai' TC )rao-e, 
Fondre sur un Vaisseau qui s'oppose a levir Rage, 
Le vent avec Fureur dans les Voiles fremit ; 
La Mer blanchit d'ccnme, et I'air an loin gemit 
Le Matelot trouble, que son Art abondonne, 
Croit voir dans chacjue Flot qui Tenvironne.' 



'' 1 like this description, because there are no tri- 

' 14 



fling incidents thrown in. 'Tis short and energetic — 



170 CRUISE OF DR. SOLOMON DROWNE. 1780. 

iirand aii<l foi-civc, like the storm itself. One now 
can sfarf(^ refrain from env^dng the husbandman 
who, folded on his bed of placid qniet, hears the wild 
whistle ronnd his steady mansion, whilst onr ears 
are assailed by its rude howling" throngh the cord- 
age, onr vessel tossed npon the foaming snrges. 
Thrice hap|)y rnral life, and too ha])py conntry- 
men, did they bnt kn(»w their happiness! [The fore- 
going ontbnrst fr(»m Dr. Drowne leads ns to believe 
that he mnst have b(MMi very ill indeed at that time. 
— E. S. IM.] The gale moderates, the wind shifts, 
and the sea begins to be a[)peased. Ciod of Natnre! 
Who that sees thy greatness on the wide, extended 
ocean bnt nmst be filled with adoration, and feel a 
snbmission of heart to thy eternal orders. 

" October 8th. — ^loderate weather after the 
storm. (Jet nnr clothes, etc., ont to dry. Clondy still. 
Onr mariners wonder we came off so well as we did; 
and indeed we escaped to admii'ation, owing, in some 
measni'e, to the goodiu'ss of onr vessel and the tak- 
ing every precantion pn'vions to the S(^verity of the 
gale. Toward evening a sail is seen from the mast- 
head; [we] set sail and stand for her. 

" October Dtli. — /V>.s7 iiaJtila, PliaJms! A beantifnl 
morning. How (dieering are the beams of the snn! 
I view him almost with the sentiments of a Persian. 
Those snrly billows that erewhile bnffeted ns to and 
fro, and wonld snffer ns no peace, are composed as 
the infant that has bawled its(df to rest. A large 
nnmber of whale of the s])ermaceti kind [are] play- 
ing ronnd ns this morning, and let tlnMu sport. The 
Father of the nnivers(^ has given them the ex]»anded 
ocean for llie wide scene of their happiness. Noth- 
ing of said sail to be sec^i. Have an observation for 
the first time. Latitnde oS^ :3T'. My variation chart 
of no nse for Avant of an azimnth compass. [In] 
afternoon discovcn- a shi]) standing to the eastward. 

" Octob(M- loth. — No remarkable occnrrence. 
Latitnde 54'. 



1780. A £20,000 PRIZE. 171 

" October 11th. — Whilst at dinner a sail is cried. 
Immediately give chase and discover another. One a 
sloop, which bears down npon iis, the other a brig. 
]\[ake every preparation for an engagement, bnt on 
approaching and hailing the sloop she proves to be 
the JidinloJpli, Captain Fosdick, from New Tvondon, 
monnting eighteen 4-ponnders. The brig, with only 
two guns, her prize from England, taken at eight 
o'clock tins moi-ning. Captain Fosdick says her 
cargo amonnted to twenty thonsand ])onnds ster- 
ling." 

The learned doctor now apparently begins to 
think better (or worse) of his privateering, for he 
continnes: ''"What goo<l and ill fortnne were conse- 
quent on that cai)ture! Hard for those poor fel- 
lows, their tedious voyage being just accomi)lislied, 
thus to have their brightening prospect cloud(Hl in 
a moment. If vii-tue is the doing good to others, pri- 
vateering can not be justified upon the })rinciples 
of virtue, although I know it is not repugnant to 
the ' laws of nations,' but rather deemed policy 
among warring powers thus to distress eacdi other 
regardless of the suffering individual. But however 
agreeable to and supportable by the rights of war, 
yet when individuals come io thus despoil individ- 
uals of their property 'tis hard; the cruelty then ap- 
pears, however ])olitical." [Had Dr. Drowne been a 
delegate to the I*(NH-e Conference at The Hague in 
1801) he could not have summed up the arguments 
of the American commissioners in favor of protec- 
tion of ])rivate i)r<)perty on the high seas better than 
by using these words. — E. S. M.] 

''October 12th. — Early this morning two sail in 
sight, a shi]) and a brig. Chase tluun chief of the 
day to no purpose. We conclude th<\v sail W(dl and 
may be bound t(t rhiladel[thia. Latitude l\^~ (>'. 
Soniidings nineteen fathoms. I^ost sight of tlie Ran- 
doJpli by the chase. 

" October 13th. — A foggv morning and Scotch 



172 CRUISE OP DR. SOLOMON DROWNE. 1780. 

mist. Clears away pleasant. Latitude 39° 31'. This 
afternoou a sloop is discovered under the lee bow 
staudinii' before the wind. All hands [are] upon 
deck preparinj;- for the chase. [There is] but little 
wind, so the oars are to be plied. I must go and see 
how we come on. Night obliges us to give over the 
pursuit. 

'' October 14th. — A sail [is] seen from the mast- 
head; proves a ship. We chase. Catch a herring 
hog, which makes us a fine breakfast and dinner for 
the whole crew. Another sail heaves in sight. Upon 
a nearer approach the ship appears to be of the line 
[the heaviest class of war ships]. Several in sight. 
Toward evening signal guns heard. We take them 
to be men-of-war standing in, northwest by west. 
Longitude, by reckoning, 73° 30"; latitude 39° 31'; 
twenty-six fathoms. A i)leasant moonlight evening. 
Spend it in walking the quarter-deck. 

'' October 15th. — A pleasant day. See a sail to 
windward. As she rather approaches us we lie a- 
hull for hei'. I think it is more agreeable waiting 
for them than rowing after them, (let a fishing line 
under way. Catch a hake and a few dogfish. It 
being Sunday, try tlie efficacy of a clean shirt, in 
order to be something like folks ashore. Give chase, 
as the vessel comes down rather slow. On approach- 
ing discover her to be a snow.^ She hauls her wind 
and stands from us. Sails very heavy, and Captain 
Munroe is sanguine in the belief we shall make a 
prize of licr. (let everything in readiness to board 
her. 

" There seems something awful in the prepara- 
tion for an attack and tlie immediate^ prospect of an 
action. She hauls u]) her courses and hoists English 
colors. I take my station in the cabin, where [I] re- 
main n(>t lonii' before I hear the huzza on deck in 



1 A vessel eciuipped with two masts, resembling tlie main and fore 
masts of a sliip, and a tliird, small mast, just abaft the mainmast, 
carrying a trysail. 



1780. THE BURDEN OF WEALTH. I73 

consequence of her striking. Send onr boat for the 
captain and his papers. She sailed from Kingston, 
Jamaica, upwards of forty days since, in a fleet, and 
was bound to New Yorlv, Captain William Small, 
commander. She has ten men on board and four ex- 
cellent 4-pounders. Her cargo consists of one hun- 
dred and forty-nine puncheons, twenty-three hogs- 
heads, three quarter casks and nine barrels of rum, 
and twenty hogsheads of muscovado sugar. [We] 
send two prize masters and ten men on board, get 
the prisoners on board our vessel and taking the 
prize in tow. Stand towards Egg Harbor. We hard- 
ly know what to do with the prize. The wind shift- 
ing a little we stand to the eastward. 

'' October IG. — Keep on eastern course to try to 
get her into our harbor, if possible. Now we are 
terribly api)reliensive of seeing a sail. About sunset 
a sail is seen from the masthead whi(di excites no 
small anxiety. Cast off the snow's hawser, etc. 
However, night coming on, and seeing no more of 
the sail, pursue our course. Sound forty-two fath- 
oms of water. 

'' October 17th. — Strong gales at north — north- 
west and very cold. Latitude 40° 30'. Afternoon, 
moderates somewhat. fWe] take the old snow in 
tow again. We expect to bring up somewhere in the 
neighborhood of Martha's Vin(\vard. A squall with 
hail and snow comes up which splits the snow's 
jib to pieces. A little bird came on board, rendered 
quite tame by its long, hazardous flight. Amuse 
myself with looking ovta* a quarter waggoner taken 
out of the snow. Take a drink of grog, made of 
snow water. A^ery heavy squalls indeed this night, 
with a rough, bad sea. Obliged to cast off the dull 
snow and let her go her pace. About forty-two 
fathoms water. Sleep little. 

''October 18th. — Boisterous weather still, a tum- 
bling sea going. Feel qualmish. Latitude 40° 40'. 
The wind so contrarv that we make but slow ad- 



17-1: CRUISE OP DR. SOLOMON DROWNE. 1780. 

vances towards our desired liaveii. Just as I was 
pleasino- myself with the idea of a speedy conclusion 
to this disai^reeable cruise a sail is cried, which per- 
haps will protract it, if not show us [New] York in 
our way home. The sail appears to be a brijj,' and 
not standin<;' for us, as we at first ai)prehended. We 
chase till night prevents. Lose sight of the snow. 
Fire signal guns, show Hash fires and a lantern, but 
see no answer. 

" October lOtli. — The snow is in sight again this 
morning. Run alongside and take her in tow again. 
They say they answered our signals, though unseen 
by us. A i)retty bird caught on board, the Carolina 
redbird. ]More moderate weather. Latitude 40° 30". 
At this rate, the West Indies will bring us up sooner 
than Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket. Forty-nine 
fathoms. Have our pistols hung up in the cabin, 
to be in readiness for the }>risoners should they take 
in it into theii* heads to rise upon the wat(di in the 
night. 

" October 20th. — Thicdc weather and the wind 
contrary. Depth of water seventeen fathoms. Sure- 
ly we must be nigh some land, and, were it not for 
such weather, perha]>s | we] might see it. Latitude 
30° 50". A good southwardly breeze last evening 
shoved us up to this latitude. Here we are, be- 
calmed and fairly lost; for, whether w^e are to the 
eastward of Nantu(dvet, or between ^Fartha's Vine- 
yard or Blo(dv Island, or the last and ^lontauk Point ^ 
I a little to the southward of them all], is a matter 
in (juestion amongst our seamen. About sunset I 
go on board the snow at Captain SmalTs request to 
do sitmcthing for his rlummatic knee and see a very 
si(dv boy. After prescribing for him, examining the 
UKMlicine box, giving directions, etc., return to the 
sloop. 

''Oct(d)(^i' 21st. — Verv calm. Not a breath to 



^ For map, see page 104. 



1780. . JOYOUS RETURN TO PORT. I75 

ruffle the ocean. How uneasy every one on board 
is, fearini;- to lose tlic prize! But if \y(' can't stir 
lience otliers can't come lun-e to molest ns. Four- 
teen fathoms of water with yellowish, small <;rayel 
stones — accordin,i;- to some the sign of No Man's 
Land, to othei-s ^lontauk. 1 hope we shall know 
where we are soon. The hoi-izon ton hazy yet to 
see far. Half i)ast ten o'clock. At length the agree- 
able prospect presents itself. Martha's ^Mneyard, 
etc., full in yicAV. What an excellent landfall! To 
one who was never out of sight of land a whole day 
before the seeing it again is very ]>leasing, though 
after only seventtn^n days' de])riyation. ]t is very 
disagreeable tossing about in so small a vessel at 
this season of the year. Latitude 41° 17'. A pilot 
conies on board, and soon another, but too late. We 
go in between No Man's Land and (xi\j Head, so 
called from its exhibiting a variety of colors when 
the sun shines bright uixni it — especially just after 
a rain. Elizabeth Islands in sight on the starboard 
side, Cuddy Hunk the west most. Ten o'ldock r. m. 
We now have Sakonnet Point astern [see map on 
page 90], therefore are safe. Pass up the east side 
of Rhode Island. Our men are in uncommon spirits. 
Amdior about a league u]) the i)assage. 

''October 22d. — Sunday. Very foggy. What 
wind there is [is] ahead. AVeigh anchor and [get] 
out oars. A fair, gentle breeze springs from the 
south. Pass through Bristol Ferry way with hard 
tugging about the middle of the afternoon. r^)me 
to anchor in the Bay, but wIkmv rendered uncertain 
by the fog having come u]) again. About six o'clock 
Captain Munroe and I, with four of the hands, set 
off for Providence in the boat. Being envcdoped in 
an uncommon thick fog, take a compass and a lan- 
tei'u on board. P>ut proceed not far, the smallness 
of the boat and the inex])ertness of the row(M's occa- 
sioning a motion agitating onr compass beyond use. 
Therefore we are glad to find the wav back to the 



176 CRUISE OF DR. SOLOMOxN DROW^JE. 1780. 

Hope, which is offectod by their fixin<j;- lanterns in the 
shrouds, in consequence of our raising' ours and 
hailing. 

" October 2od. — Early after breakfast we set off 
again in the boat with the compass, being still sur- 
rounded with an excessive fog. Run ashore to the 
eastward of Kayatt I'oint and mistake it for Conimi- 
cut. However, arrive at I'rovidence about eleven 
o\lo(dc, it having ch'ared off very pleasant. Thus 
ends our short but tinlious cruise. At sunset the 
sloop and snow arrive, tiring thirteen cannon each." 



CHAPTER XIV. 

CAREER OE THE CENERAL WASIIIX<rrON. 

Few privateers in the Avar for indepeiKlfMice had 
sneh a remarkable eareer as the General Wd.sliiiujfoii. 
She was a swift-sailini;- craft i)ierce<l for twenty 
gnus, and ordinarily carried a coniplenient of one 
hundred and twenty men. In 1780 this privateer, 
then commanded by Captain Walker, had an actiou 
with a ship of eighteen guns and a brig of six guns 
that lasted six hours, when the enemy, being satis- 
fied that they could not take her without too mucli 
sacrifice, hauled ofl*, leaving the (U'livraJ WdsJiiiif/loii 
with her mainmast gone by the board, and having 
four guns dismounted, three men killed and three 
wounded. In the same cruise the (U'ltcvdl Wd.sli'uH/lon 
came across a fleet of British war vess(ds, and es- 
caped only by superior seamanship and her fine 
running (pialities. The (icitcnil Wdshiixjlo}} soon 
afterward was captured by Admiral Arbuthnot's 
squa<lron. Her name was (dianged to (Icuvnil Moiih^ 
and, being refitt(Ml, was takiMi into tlie British navy 
and pla<'ed under the command of Ca])tain Bodgers. 

Captain Bodgers was an ofiicer of unusual ability 
and courage. He was born at Lynington in 1755, 
and at an early age shi]>ped as a midshi]nnan in the 
frigate Airfhifsa, Captain Hammond. The first ac- 
tive service of young Bodgers was on the North 
American station, where he followed his commander 
to the 44-gun frigate RochncJc. In ^Marcli, 177G, 
Bodgers was detailed, with the s(M'ond lieutenant of 

177 



178 CAREER OP THE GENERAL WASHINGTON. 1776-1782. 

tlie Ikochiicl-, to man an armed tender of the frigate, 
with orch'i's to surprise the town of Lewes, within 
the Capes of the Delaware. The tender siieeeeded 
in capturing a sloop, and IJodgers was placed aboard 
with several of his men. 

The British prize crew, however, proved nntriie 
to their colors, and, cons])iring with the American 
prisoners, I'an th(^ slooj* ashore while Mr. IJodgers 
was asleej) and made a ])risoner of him. He was 
taken into the interior and sent to Williamsburg, 
Virginia, and then through Kichmond to Charlottes- 
ville, " where he pleasantly si)ent (dght months with 
other jtrisoners. Thoir chief enjoyment was to 
ramble among the woods and mountains and to 
gather Avild fruits and salads, with whicdi tli(\y would 
regale themselves during the noontide heats on the 
banks of some sheltered rivulet." In April, 1777, 
t]\v ju'isoners were marc hed to Alexandria, from 
which ]>lace Modgers and several others contrived to 
escape, and after an exhausting tramp of four hun- 
di'ed miles rcacdied tlu^ Delaware, where they were 
fortunate enough to find the Uovhiich and get aboard. 

From this time on Kodgers was entirely engaged 
in predatory expeditions on the shores of Virginia 
and INfaryland, and succeeded in cutting out several 
aruKMl vess(ds. TTc was in the Eochnch when she, 
with other British war shi])S, came up the Delaware 
in August, 177S, to bombard Fort MifHin. After- 
ward he distinguished hims(df at the siege of Charles- 
ton. On the fall of that ])lac(^ Admiral Arbuthnot 
gave IvodgfM'S the command of the (Jciirral WasJiiiif/- 
toii, then called (iniffdl MOiik. During the two years 
Ivodgers commanded this vessel he took and assisted 
in taking more than sixty vessels, his services in 
conneclion with the capture of the TnnnhtilJ, Cap- 
tain Nicholson, having been noted. ^ 

On the evening of April 7, 1782, while the General 

' See Macliiy's History oi tlie N;ivy, vol. i, jip. 142, 143. 



1782. MERCHANTS PIT OUT A CRUISER. 179 

Monk was cruising off Cape Henlopen in company 
witli the frigate Qnrhcc, Captain Mason, tlie sails of 
eight vessels were discovered lying at anchor in 
Cape May Roads. Believing them to be Americans 
waiting for an opportunity to get to sea, Captain 
Mason anchored his ships so as to prevent the 
strange sails from getting to sea under cover of 
night. These vessels were merchantmen under the 
convoy of the Pennsylvania merchant shi}) Under 
AUif. At this period of the war it was the custom of 
the British to fit out privateers in New York and 
send them to cruise in thc^ Chesapeake and off the 
Delaware, to caitture merchantmen passing in and 
out. iNlany vessels were taken in this way. Another 
source of danger in these waters was the swarm of 
refugee boats. Usually these were light-draught 
vessels manned by Tories and other disaffected 
Americans. They concealed their craft in the small 
bays and creeks, and under cover of night attacked 
unsuspecting merchantmen. 

The damage inflicted by these boats became so 
great that on April 9, 1782, the Pennsylvania Legis- 
lature determined to equip a war vessel at the ex- 
pense of the State — as Congress, at that time, was 
unable to give adequate protection — for the purpose 
of cruising in these waters. Twenty-five thousand 
pounds were appropriated, and authority was grant- 
ed to borrow twenty-five thousand pounds more if 
necessary, and ^Fessrs. Francis Ciurney, John Patton, 
and AVilliam Allibone were aj)p()inted commission- 
ers to secure the necessary vessels. The merchants 
of Philadelphia, however, had anticipated this meas- 
ure, and on their own responsibility, in March, 1782, 
j)ui'clias(Ml of John Willcocks the trading vessel 
Hjidcr All//. At the time the merchants concluded 
to tak(^ this step, the TIjitler AJI1/ drojiped down the 
river, outward bound, with a cargo of flour. As she 
was the only vessel in any way snite<l for the serv- 
ice, she was recalled, her flour landed, and she was 



L«0 CAREER OF THE GENERAL WASHINGTON. l-ZSl 

pierced for sixteen G-pouuders. A complement of 
one hundred and ten men was shipped and the com- 
mand given to Lieutenant Joshua Barney, of the 
navy. Barney, as we have just noticed, had re- 
turned to the United States after his extraordinary 
escape from Mill Prison. She sailed as convoy to 
the merchantmen alluded to early in April, strict 
orders being given to Barney to confine his cruising 
ground within the Capes, as the merchants had no 
intention of protecting their commerce beyond that 
limit. The convoy had got as far as Cape May lloads, 
where it Avas discovered by Captain Mason's blockad- 
ing force. 

Not knowing the exact force of the vessels he 
had seen within the Koads, Cai>tain ^lason on the 
following morning ordered Kodgers to enter the 
roads and reconnoiter, and, in case the vessels were 
not too strong for him, to attack, while the Qiichcc 
would proceed higher up, so as to prevent them 
from entering the Delaware. Before Captain 
Rodgers could carry out his instructions, he saw 
three sails standing toward him, which were soon 
made out to be British privateers fitted out at New 
York, one of them being the Fair A}iieric<ni, a ship of 
fourteen guns, which had been taken from the colo- 
nists. This privateer had been one of the squadron 
under the orders of Captain Biddle, of the Randolph, 
when that unfortunate vessel was blown up b}^ the 
YamioiiiJi. 

Captain Kodgers communicated his design to the 
commanders of the privateers, and asked for their 
support. The captain of the 7'Y//>" American promised 
to co-operate, but the other two held aloof, prefer- 
ring to take their chances in independent action. 
The (ioicnil Manl- stood into the Boads with the 
Fair Aincriraii, and about noon rounded Cape May 
Point. This discovered them to the convoy, and sig- 
naling the merchantmen to make sail up the bay 
Lieutenant Barney maneuvered so as to cover their 



1783. A STRATAGEM. ISl 

retreat. Both the English vessels made straight 
for the convoy. The Fair American in passing the 
Hyder AUy gave her a broadside, to which the Ameri- 
cans made no reply, and then hastened on in chase of 
the fleeing traders. One of these, a ship, surren- 
dered at the first summons; another, the only armed 
vessel, aside from the Hi/dcr AJh/, in the convoy, ran 
ashore and was deserted by her crew, who escaped 
over the jib boom, while a brig and tw(> ships en- 
deavored to enter ^Morris Kiver, and in the effort to 
cut them off the Fair A)iirricaii ran aground. 

This left the Ilijdvr AUi/ and the (General Monk 
alone to dispute the supremacy of the Konds. Cap- 
tain Rodgers made for the Ili/dcr AJJi/ with the inten- 
tion of discharging his broadside at close quarters, 
and then boarding in the smoke. When witliin pistol 
shot the Americans poured in their broadside, and 
perceiving that it was the enemy's programme to 
board Barney instructed his men at the wheel to 
execute the next order " by the rule of contrary." 
Just as the ships were about to foul, Barney called 
out to the helmsmen in a loud voice, which was in- 
tended to be heard aboard the enemy's ship: " Hard 
aport your helm! Do you want him to run aboard 
us? " The helmsmen understood their cue, and clap- 
ping the wheel hard to starboard brought the Eng- 
lishman's jib boom afoul of the Hi/dcr Alljf.s fore rig- 
ging, which exposed the (ivncral Monk to a raking 
fire from the entire American broadsid<'. It took 
but a minute for the Americans to lash the ships 
together, and then th<\v began didivering a (h^struc- 
tive, raking fire, to which the enemy was unable to 
make reply except with small arms. 

The Englishmen (Muh^avored to board, but Lieu- 
tenant Barney had made sucli admirable defense 
against this that they were frustrated. The enemy 
then endeavored to ])ick off' the Americans with their 
small arms, and a lively, rattling fire of musketry 
was the consequence. Many of the marines in the 



182 CAREER OF THE GENERAL WASHINGTON^ 1T82. 

Ill/dcr All If were tliorc Highbred " baekwoodsmen," to 
whom the use of firearms was as natural as walking. 
One of these men, a Bncdc County rifleman, particu- 
larly attracted the attention of Captain Barney. In 
the hottest of the fight, when both sides were mak- 
ing every exertion to gain the victory, this man sev- 
<;'ral times asked his commander, " Who made this 
gun I'm using?" Su(di a seemingly useless ques- 
tion in the heat of battle, as might be expcM-ted, 
drew a rough answer frcun the captain. But Barney 
knew the man had nev(^r been on a ship before, and 
that fact prevented severer treatment for his breach 
of marine etiquette. The man, however, was not 
idle. The coolness and deliberation with which he 
fired showed that he was not in the least excited, 
and seeuKMl as nun h pleaxscd as if he were engaging 
in some harmless pastime. Asking the question for 
the third time. Captain l>arney sharply inquired why 
he wanted to kn(>w. " W-a-a-l," replied the man, 
with the drawl i)eculiar to tlu^ mountaineers, "this 
'ere bit o' iron is jes' the best smoothbore I ever fired 
in my life." 

A few minutes after this another Buck County 
"marine," who was equally ignorant of nautical 
etiquette, with the familiarity of a backwoodsman 
called out to Barney: "Say, Cap, do you see that 
fellow with the white hat?" and firing as he spoke 
Captain Barney looked in the direction indicated, 
and saw a man with a white hat on tli(^ enemy's 
(l(M-k jumi> at least three foot and fall to ris(^ no 
more. "Cap," again calhMl out the marksman, 
" that's the third fellow I've made hop." After the 
battle was over the Americans found that every one 
of the Englishmen who had been killed or wounded 
by small arms had been strucdv either in the head or 
breast. 

During the heat of the action Captain Barney, 
in order that he might g(4 a l)etter view of the 
battle, stood on the binnacle on the quarter-deck, 



1783. BARNEY'S NARROW ESCAPE. ]83 

where be presented an excellent tarjiet for the 
enemy's sharpshooters — as he soon found out. One 
ball from the enemy's tops passed throngb bis bat, 
just iirazing the (■ro^yn (►f bis bead, while another 
tore off a part of the skirt of his coat. Objecting' to 
this treatment, he called out to his marine officer, 
Mr. Scully, to direct the fire of bis men at the enemy's 
tops and it was obeyed, and with such effect that 
every shot brought down its man, so that in a few 
minutes the tops were cleared. 

At the opening of the battle, just as (''ai)taiu 
Barney had taken bis station on the binnacle, be ob- 
served one of his otbcers with the cook's axe up- 
lifted in bis hand, about to strike one of bis own 
men who had deserted his gun and was skulking 
behind the mainmast. At this moment a round shot 
hit the binnaide on which Barney was standing and 
threw him to the deck. Supposing that bis com- 
mander was hurt, the officer threw down tlu' axe 
and ran to Barney's assistance, but the commander 
quickly regained his feet, uninjured, whereupon the 
officer deliberately i)icked up the axe and again 
sought the skulker. ]>y this time, however, the fel- 
low had got over bis '^ first scare," and was found at 
his gun, where be fought courageously to the close 
of the battle. 

A brother-in-law of Captain Barney, Josepli Bed- 
ford, was serving in the /fi/dcr Alhj at this time 
as a volunt(Mn' and behaved with marked gallantry. 
He was stationed in the maintop, and was wounded 
by a musket ball in tlu^ groin, but so interest(Ml was 
he in the strife that he did not discover his hurt 
until after the action, when he descended to the deck 
and fell exhausted from loss of blood. 

Captain Bodgers made heroic attempts to extri- 
cate bis ship from her unlucky position, but the 
Americans seemed to anticipate every move. They 
cut his shrouds and running rigging so that be could 
not handle the sails. After the battle had lasted 



1S4 CAREim OF TIIP] GENERAL WASHINGTON. 1783. 

twenty iiiiiiutes nearly half the British had been 
shiin or injured. Their decks were eoyered with the 
kiUed or wounded, the first lieutenant, purser, sur- 
geon, boatswain, gunner — in fact, every officer in the 
ship (excepting one midshipman) was either killed or 
injured. Captain Kodgers himself had received a 
painful wound in the foot. Finding that the Quehec 
was too far away to render him immediate assist- 
ance, Captain Kodgers, thirty minutes from the time 
the action opened, surrendered, having had twenty 
men killed and thirty-three wounded. The Ilijdcr 
AUji had four killed and eleven wounded. 

When the American first officer came aboard to 
take possession Captain Kodgers ordered one of his 
men to go into his cabin and bring up his fowling 
piece — a beautiful silver-mounted gun — and in the 
])resence of the boarding officer threw it overboard, 
remarking: ''This shall never become the property 

of any d d reb(d ! " Cai)tain Kodgers, however, 

forgot to destroy his book of signals, which fell into 
the hands of the Americans, and materially assisted 
them in eluding the frigate, as will be seen. 

Throwing a prize crcnv of thirty-five men aboard 
the (Iciicnil Moiil', Barney, without waiting even to 
learn the name of his priz<\ ordered her British 
ensign to b<^ rehoisted, and showing English colors 
on the Ifi/dcr Mhi he i)ut up the bay as if in chase 
of the merchantmen, while the lli/<hr All// ])repared 
to cover the rc^ar. The Fair Aiticricdii was found to 
be in too shallow water to warrant an attack on 
h(M% so Barney contented hims(df with making sure 
of his ])resent conquest. Deceived by the flag on 
the (ii'iicnil MoiiJc and Ifj/dcr AlJi/, Captain ]Mason 
made no great effort to hast(Mi to the scene of con- 
flict, as by the aid of the signal book Captain Barney 
was able to answer his signals, so that the merchant- 
men and two war ships were able to reach a place 
of saf(4y before dark. 

A gentleman who visited the Ili/dcr AUy and her 



1782. DREADFUL CONDITION OP THE GENERAL MONK. 1X5 

prize on their arrival describes the scene: " I was 
then in Philadelphia, quite a lad, when the action 
took place. Both ships arrived at the lower part 
of the city with a leadin<»- wind, immediately after 
the action, bringing with them all their killed and 
wounded. Attracted to the wharf by the salute 
which the Hi/dcr Alli/ fired, of thirteen guns, which 
was then the custom, one for each ^tate, I saw the 
two ships lying in the stream, anchored near each 
other. In a short time, however, they war]>ed into 
the wharf to land their killed and wounded, and curi- 
osity induced nu% as well as many others, t<» go on 
board each vessel. . . . The Ociicral Moiik^s decks 
were in every direction besmeared with blood, cov- 
ered with the dcnid and wounded, and r<'S(Mnbled a 
charuel house. Several of her bow i)(>rts were 
knocked int(» one, a plain evidence of the well- 
directed fire of the /fi/thr MJif. The killcMl and 
wounded were carried ashore in hammocks. 

" I was present at a conversation whicli took 
place on tlu^ ([uarter-deck of the (rciicrdl MoiiJ: be- 
tween Captain Barney and several merchants in 
Philadelphia. I remember one of them observing: 
' Why, Captain Barney, you have been truly fortu- 
nate in capturing this vessel, considering she is so 
far superior to you in point of size, guns, men, and 
metal.' ' Yes, sir,' Barney replied. ' I do consider 
myself fortunate. When we were about to engage, 
it was the opinion of myself, as well as my crew, that 
she would blow us to atoms, but we were determined 
she should gain her victory dearly.' One of the 
wounded British sailors observed: 'Yes, sir. Cap- 
tain Bodgers said to our croAV, a little before the 
action commenced, " Now, my boys, we shall have 
the Yankee ship in five minutes," and so we all 
thought, but here we ar(\' " For a long time after 
the batth^ the mizzen staysail of the (}cii<i'(il Moiih 
was exhibited in a sail loft in Philadelphia, in which 
were counted three hundred and sixty-five shot holes. 
15 



18(3 CAREER OF THE GENERAL WASHINGTON. 1782. 

Every attention was shown to the wounded pris- 
oners, which was in marked contrast to the barbar- 
ous treatment Captain Barney had received aboard 
the Yarmouth and in Mill Prison. Captain Barney 
personally attended to the removal of the wounded, 
and secured for Captain Bodgers comfortable quar- 
ters in the home of a Quaker lady, who nursed him 
carefully until fully recovered from his injuries. For 
two or three years afterward, however, he was 
obliged to use crutches, and it was seven years be- 
fore he could walk any considerable distance. On 
the close of the war Captain Bodgers again served in 
the Boyal Navy. He assisted in the siege of Dun- 
kirk, and was active during the whole war with 
France. In 1794 he was attached to the British 
fleet in the West Indies, and won distinction at the 
storming of the forts of St. Lucia, Martinique, Gua- 
deloupe, and Cabrit. In the following year he died 
from yellow fever, April 2Ith, at Grenada. It is of 
interest to note in this conncM-tion that the com- 
manding British officer on this station to whom 
Captain Bodgers made report of his capture was Ad- 
miral Digby, whom we remember as having com- 
manded the British fleet off Plymouth, England, 
Avhen Barney made his escape from M\\\ Prison. 

For this truly brilliant action Captain Barney 
received a sword from the State of Pennsylvania, 
and his prize, which was purchased by the United 
States under her original name, (fCitrral W(t,^Jnniit())i, 
was refitted and placed under his command. While 
this was being effected Captain Barney again went 
down the bay in the Ifi/dcr Alh/ to see what chance 
there w^as of getting his convoy to sea. In this trip 
he captured the refugee schooner //ooA- 'cm Hnivcj/, 
and brought her back to Philadelphia. 

We have now followed the career of the Genera} 
Washington as an American privateer, as an English 
cruiser, as the prize to the merchants of Philadel- 
phia, and now we find her as a United States cruiser, 



1782. AN IMPORTANT MISSION. l^ST 

and, as will be seen, for several j^ears the only vessel 
retained in the service. On May 18, 1782, Captain 
Barney sailed from Philadelphia in the Qcneral 
WdsJihifitoii as escort to a fleet of fifteen or sixteen 
merchantmen. On reachino- the Capes it was found 
that a powerful British blockadin"- scpiadron mach^ 
it hazardous to attempt getting to sea, uj^on whi(di 
the traders returned. 

A sealed packet had been given to Barney which 
he was not to open until " you get about forty 
leagues to sea, keeping as much to the eastward as 
circumstances will admit, always keeping the packet 
slung with weights sufficicMit to sink it in case of 
your falling in with an enemy of superior force. To 
this matter we request i/ou iriU pai/ jHirticiilar (ilhii- 
tioii, as the dispatclu^s arc of fhc irhnosf vonsninciKr.'"' 
When the (iriicnt] Wdsli'uH/toii had reached the de- 
sired distance from land Barney opened the pacdvet, 
whi(di he found to be from Bcdiert Morris, Su])erin- 
tendeut of Finance of the United States. The 
instructions, in part, were: '' A"ou are to proceed 
directly to Cape Francjois, in IIis]>aniola, and if the 
Freucdi and S])anish fleets should n(»t be there you 
must proceed to the place where they may be, and 
when you sliall have found them you are to deliver 
to the Frenidi and Spanish admirals the inclosed 
letters. I expect that, in consc(iuence of these let- 
ters, a frigate will be ordered to convoy you to 
Havana, and thence to America. You Avill go to 
Havana, where you will deliver the inclosed letter 
to Robert Smith, Esq., ag(Mit for the l^nit<Ml States 
at that place. You will also inform all jiersons con- 
cerned in the American trade that you are bound for 
su(di ])ort of the T'^nited States as you may be able 
to make, and you will take on board your ship, as 
freight, any moneys whicdi they thiidc proper to 
slii]), l)ut no goods or merchandise of any kind, 
l-'or the moneys you are to charge a freight of two 
per cent., one half of which you shall have; the 



188 CAREER OF THE GENERAL WASHINGTON. 1782. 

other is to be applied toward the expense of your 
voyage. 

''If a frigate is granted by the French admiral 
to convoy yon, the captain of her will be instrncted 
by the admiral to receive any moneys which it may 
be thought proper to put on board of him. I should 
sup])ose that by dividing the risk, or shipping a part 
on board of eaidi, there will be greater safety than 
by putting all in one bottom. You are to stay as 
short a time as possible at Havana, and then, in com- 
pany witli the frigate, make the best of your way 
to some port in the United States. This port of 
Baltimore would be the best, but you must be guided 
by your own discretion on the occasion, together 
with such information as you may be able to pro- 
cur(\ It is not improbable that a stronger escort 
than one frigate may be granted, in which case you 
will find a greater security, and a division of the 
money among many will multiply the chances for 
receiving it." Captain Barn(\v also had an order 
for the commander of the American frigate Dcane, 
Ca])tain Samuel Nicholson, which was thought to 
be cruising somewhere in his course, to accompany 
th(^ (U'licntJ WdshiiH/toii as an escort. Nothing, how- 
ever, was seen of this frigate and Oaptain Barney 
slia])ed his course for Cape Fran(;ois. 

Wliile off Turk's Island the (Ivncnil WashiiM/foii at 
nighttime overhauled a heavily armed vessel whi(di 
acted in a very sus])icious manner. When within 
hailing distance the usual questions were passed, 
but they wen^ so unsatisfactory that Captain Bar- 
ney det<M'mined to inquire more closely into the 
stranger's cliaracter. With this idea in mind he 
ordered a gun to be fired over her; but the American 
crew, standing at their guns witli liglited matches, 
ex])ecting the order to fire at any moment, mistook 
the command and poured in a broadside. This was 
inefl'(Mtual, as the stranger, evidently disliking the 
a])i[K'arance of the cruiser, had dropped astern and 



1:82. NIGHT BATTLE WITH A STRANGER. 1S9 

was preparing to make off. The Englisliiuan now 
came round and managed to get in a raking lire, 
which caused some confusion in the cruiser and 
hampered her maneuvers for the rest of the action. 

Captain Barney was soon alongside the stranger, 
and a running figlit followed. The enemy, however, 
availed herself of the tangled condition of the (rcii- 
vral Wash'ui(/ton's rigging and got in several raking 
fires. It was soon found that she was very ably 
manned, and was armed with 9-pounders, so that the 
situation began to get serious for the Americans. 
The General W<i.s']i'ui<jtoii, it is true, had 9-pounders 
also, but they were made so by having bored G- 
pounders to this larger caliber — a dangerous experi- 
ment — and on this occasion six of the guns were 
upset in the first broadside, being unable to stand 
the 9-pounder (dmrges of powder. It required much 
precious time to remount these guns. 

As the ships were about to open fire Captain 
Barney turned to one of his passengers, James II. 
^McCulloidi, and told him he had better go below, 
where he would be out of danger. ^Iv. ^NlcCulloch 
begged to stay on d(M-k. Coolly walking over to the 
arms chest, he examined several muskets, looked at 
their flints, tried them to his shoulder, and finally 
selected one that suite<l him. lie then slung a car- 
tridge box over his shoulder, and adjusting a hand- 
kerchief to his head fired the first musket shot at 
the enemy. Throughout the whole of the action he 
was conspicuous for his cool intrepidity. At one 
tinu^ his gun missed fire, upon which he calmly sat 
on the arms chest, took out a knife or key, and after 
bringing the flint to the proper edge resumed his 
" target ])ractice," as he expressed it. He fired more 
times than any other man in the ship. Tliirty-two 
years afterward Mr. McCulloch was wounded and 
taken prisoner by the English in the action at North 
Point. After peace Mas declared he held the posi- 
tion of collector of the port of Baltimore. Two of 



190 CAREER OF THE GENERAL WASHINGTON. 1782. 

Captain Barney's brothers were serving in the Gen- 
eral WfifihUif/fou at this time and commanded in the 
tops, 

Captain Barney realized that his best place was 
at close quarters, and he ran his ship close alongside, 
until the yards nearly interlocked with those of the 
enemy. Orders were then given to bring the ship 
aboard the enemy; but the Englishman, having the 
full use of his sails, kept away and soon drew ahead. 
But still it was known that the enemy were seriously 
injured, and there was every hope that they would 
soon surrender, when a 9-pound shot passed through 
the (Jeiieral Washtiifite^i's mainmast, and about the 
same time another shot struck the head of her miz- 
zenmast, splitting it halfway down to the deck. 
This compelled the Americans to sheer off if they 
would save their masts, and the privateer, as she 
was tlien known to be, made her escape in the night. 
On the same day the (ieiieral ^Y(lshul(/ton had cap- 
tured a brig laden with rum, which was sent to Cape 
Francois, where Captain Barney arrived in safety. 

It was here learned that the magnificent French 
fleet had been defeated by the British, and that only 
a remnant was left at Cape Fran(,'ois. One of these, 
the (i4-gun ship of the line KveUJie, was detailed to 
escort the fleiierfil WdsJi'uifilo}! to Havana, where 
six hun<lred thousand dollars in specie were taken 
aboard, and both vessels sailed for the Ignited States. 
Arriving off the Delaware they were chased by a 
British line of battle ship and two frigates, but the 
Frenchmen used their stern chasers with such good 
effect that the leading frigate had her fore-topmast 
cut away, and as her consorts could not come within 
gunshot of the Frenchmen and the Americans they 
gained the Delaware in safety. Here the French 
frigate took leave, and, seizing the first opportunity, 
made sail for France. 

During that night the Oeiicral Wash'nujton passed 
rapidly up the bay, and about three o'clock on the 



1782-1784. REFUGEE BOATS SURPRISED. U)l 

followiug morning she snddeuly came upon a flfet 
of refugee boats. Barney ran among them, an- 
chored, and, pouring in a heavy fire, sanlv one of the 
barges, with sixty men, captured several others, 
recaptured five American vessels with thirty men 
aboard, and dispersed the others. Reaching Phila- 
delphia Barney landed the money, and in the fol- 
lowing October he sailed for Europe with iini)()rtant 
dispatches to our ministers, who were conducting 
negotiations for peace. Early in January, 1783, he 
received a passport from the king of England for 
the " ship (iCHcnil ]V<ishiii</toH, belonging to the 
United {States of North America," and saih^l again 
for the United States. As the (k'ltcral ]V<isliiii(/l<ni 
had a large amount of specie aboard, lu'i* com- 
mander was instructed to avoid all British cruisers, 
in spite of the i>assi)ort, lest the money might tempt 
them to detain her. She arrived safely at Philadel- 
phia, ]\rarcli 12th. In the following June the (ivucral 
WiishliKjton, then the only United States war vessel 
in commission, again sailed to England, still under 
the command of Captain Barney. Returning from 
this cruise, she was sold in 1784. 



CHArTER XV. 

CArTAIN JOHN MANLY. 

If further evidence is ueeded to show the inti- 
mate relationship between tlie United States navy 
and onr early privateer service, we have it in the 
fact that of our twenty-five tori)edo boats bearing 
the names of officers commanding in the navy of the 
Revolution and in the War of 1812 fifteen were 
named after men who at one time commanded priva- 
teers. Torpedo boat No. 22 bears the name of one 
of onr successful privateersmen, Jcdin ^lanly. Under 
a resolution of Congress, October 10, ITTG, Manly 
was i)laced second on the list of the twenty-four 
captains in the navy, being ranked only by James 
Nicholson. His first command was the Massachu- 
setts State cruiser Lrc, in which vessel he made one 
of tlie first important captures of the war.^ While 
in command of the Continental 32-gun frigate Ihni- 
cock, ^lanly, in 1777, took the 28-gun British frigate 
Fo.r after a severe action.- 

Owing to the scarcity of vessels in the regular 
navy, ^lanly, early in 1779, put to sea from Boston 
as commander of the IG-gun privateer CiniihcrlaiKl, 
but wluMi only a short time out he was captured by 
the Britisli fi'igate Ponioud — by another account the 
Thunderer — and carried into Barbadoes,with his men, 
where he was imprisoned and treated with great 
severity. Determined to regain his liberty. Manly 

' See Maelay's IIi;<tory uf-the Navy, vul. i, pp. 48, 49. ^ Ibid., pp. 88-90. 
193 



1779. THE JASON PUTS TO SEA. 193 

managed to bribe the jailer, and getting out of tlie 
prison with his men at night he seized an English 
Government tender and, placing her crew in irons, 
reached the United ^States. Making his way to Bos- 
ton, jManly was soon provided with another com- 
mand, the fine 20-gnn ship Jason, manned by one hun- 
dred men. That Manly shonld have found so little 
difticulty in securing this splendid craft so soon 
after his loss of the CumhcrUuid, particularly at a 
time Avhen desirable ships were scarce, is a suflflcient 
commentary' on his ability. 

The Jamu sailed from Boston about June 25, 1779, 
for Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where her second 
officer, jNIr. Frost, had been engaged in securing addi- 
tional men for her complement. Arriving at Ports- 
mouth a day or so after leaving Boston, the Jason 
took aboard ]Mr. Frost and the men, and then put 
to sea for a general cruise against the enemy. On 
the morning of the second day out the man at the 
masthead reported two sails directly ahead, and 
Captain ^lanly ascendcMl to the foretop with his glass 
to discover their force and character. On returning 
to the deck he told First Officer Thayer that he be- 
liev<'d the strangei-s to be an American privateer 
with a i)rize in c(jmi)any. Mr. Thayer then went for- 
ward, and after a careful scrutiny through the glass 
came to the conclusion that one of the vessels was 
a frigate and the other a brig. Punning closer to 
them, so as to clear up all question as to their charac- 
ter, th.e Americans gradually became convinced that 
the strangers were British vessels of war, and on 
]Mr. Thayca-'s advice the Jason was put about to see 
if the sails would give chase. As soon as this ma- 
neuver was completed, the strangers promptly put 
about in pursuit, the Americans making every effort 
to recover the port they had so recently left. When 
the ]>rivateer had rc^ached the Isle of Rhoals, off the 
entrance to Portsmouth harbor, her pursuers had 
gained upon her so as to be within two gunshots. 



194 CAPTAIN JOHN MANLY. 1779. 

^Vt this moment a beaY3' squall from the Avest 
struck the Jason, and in spite of their utmost efforts 
the Americans saw their ship taken aback, thrown 
on her beam ends, and their three masts carried 
away. Ivclieved of the weight of her masts, the pri- 
vateer righted, b}' which time the squall had blown 
over, the vessels pursuing the privateer evidently 
having all they could attend to in standing under 
the scpiall, for they made Avay to sea and were not 
seen again. Captain ]Manly immediately went to 
work (dearing away the wreckage and repairing 
damages. When the sails were got aboard it was 
found that one of the crew had been caught under 
the fore-topsail and dr()\vn(Ml. 

The circumstance of Captain Manly having lost 
his first i)rivate armed ship, the Cuuihaiand, at the 
outset of her cruise, and having the misfortune to 
lose the masts of his second ship, the Jason, when 
only two daj's out, was argued by the superstitious 
seamen as a sign that be was an unlucky commander, 
whi(di, taken in connection with the drowning of the 
seansan in the wreckage, led the crew of the Jason 
to mutiny. It is here that we have a good illustra- 
tion of the qualities called for in the successful pri- 
vateersman. The difficulties confronting Captain 
IManly certainly were enough to discourage the ordi- 
nary commander. The way he faced the situation 
is graphically described by one of the crew, Joshua 
Davis, a hairdresser's apprentice, of Boston, nine- 
teen years old, who had left his father's shop to 
make his maiden voyage on the ocean. 

Davis writes: '"We got up jury masts and ran 
in between the Isle of Shoals and Portsmouth, where 
our ('a])taiu was determined to take our masts in. 
In a few days Captain ^Nlauly went on shore to see 
to getting the masts on boar<l. While he was gone 
Pati'ick Cruckshanks, our boatswain, Michael Wall, 
boatswain's mate, and John Craves, captain of the 
foi-ecastle, went forward and sat down on the stump 



1779. MUTINY. 195 

of the bowsprit and said tliey would not step the 
masts in such a wikl roadstead to endanger their 
lives, but if the ship was taken into the harbor they 
would do it with pleasure. [This meant that the 
men would then have a good (dianee to desert, which 
Captain Manly Avas most desirous they should not 
do. — E. S. M.] When Captain ^lanly came on 
board he asked iNIr. Thayer why the people were not 
at work, and was told that they wished to get into 
the harbor first. The captain answered, ' I'll harbor 
them!' and stepi)ed up to the sentry at the cabin 
door, took his cutlass out of his liand and ran for- 
ward, and said: 

" ' Boatswain, why do you not go to work? ' 
" He [the boatswain] began to tell him the im- 
propriety of getting the masts in where the ship then 
was, when Captain Manly struc k him with the cut- 
lass on the cheek with such force that his teeth were 
to be seen from the upper part of his jaw to the 
lower i^art of his chin. He next spoke to John 
Graves and interrogated, and was answered in a 
similar manner, when the captain struck him with 
the cutlass on the head, Avhich cut him so badly that 
he was obliged to be sent to the hospital with the 
boatswain. The captain then called the other to 
come down and to go to work. ^Michael Wall came 
down to him. The captain made a stroke at him, 
which missed, and, while the captain was lifting up 
the cutlass to strike him again. Wall gave him a 
push against the stump of the foi'emast and ran aft. 
The captain made after him. Wall ran to the main 
hatchway and jumped down between the decks and 
hurt himself wry much. The captain then, with 
severe threats, ordered the people to go to work. 
They went to work and step])ed the masts, got the 
topmasts on end, lower yards athwart, the toi)sail 
yards on tlie ca]>s, topgallant masts on end, sails 
bent, running rigging rove, boats on booms, etc., and 
all done in thirtv-six hours." 



[<l(; CAPTAIN JOHN MANLY. 177ii. 

Ilaviiiii' repaired his extensive damages through 
sheer force of will power Caj^taiii ^lanly prepared to 
sail without touching port. On the day he was 
ready the privateer Ifazdrd, of Boston, hove in sight, 
and running down under the '/(isoiTs stern hailed, 
informed Captain ^lanly that she had order's from 
the (leneral Court of iMassachusetts to instruct 
every armed craft from that State to repair to the 
Penobscot '' without fail." This order was given in 
connection with the ill-fated IV^nobscot (expedition 
which .Massachus(^tts was at that time undertaking 
against the (Uiemy. ('a]»tain Manly indicated his 
readiness to obey the order; but as soon as the Haz- 
(if(J was out of sight he tripped anidior and stood to 
sea, sha]»ing his course, not toward the Penobscot, 
but toward Sandy Ilctok. P^vidently Manly did not 
relish the idea of adding another to his already 
formidabh^ list of disasters. 

AA'hen off the harbor of New York the Jason 
hove to, and under easy stret(dies waited for a sail 
to ap])ear. On July 25th the sailing master went to 
the fore-to]nnast lu^ad to take his turn. About three 
o'(dock in the afternoon he cried out, " A sail on the 
weather bow!" and shortly aftc^rward he reported an- 
other sail. Both the strangers were soon made out 
to be brigs. The Jason was ]»rom])tly put about in 
pursuit, but as soon as the brigs made her out they 
spread every sail in esca])e. The swift-sailing 
American in two hours had come within two gun- 
shots of the brigs, when Captain Manly sent his men 
to (juarters. At this time the strangei's boarded 
tlndr port tacks and, hoisting English colors, gave 
the ])rivateer a broadside, ^lanly now ordered the 
sailing master to get his best bower ancdior out so 
that the bill of it would hook into the foreshrouds 
of the leading eiuuny when the moment came to 
board. Having com]»h4ed his ])reparations ^Manly 
ordertMl Ids helm hard aport, and runiung alongside 
caught his an( hor in the enemy's fore rigging, as 



1779. CAPTURE OF TWO BRITISH PRIVATEERS. 1<)7 

intended, and then opened from every gun that 
wouhl bear. The first shots from the Jason cansed 
great liavoc aboard the stranger, killing many men 
and wonnding mor(\ 

Observing that the IJritish crew, with the excep- 
tion of their commandcM', ha<l rnn below, Manly 
oi-dcred Secon<l Officer Frost to board and send the 
English commander to the Jdsoti. This was qni(dcly 
done, when the Americans cnt away the enemy's 
fore rigging so as to discMigage the privatiM'r, and 
the Jitsoii was in swift ])ursnit of the other English- 
man, who was doing his best to escajx*. (letting 
within gunshot 3Ianly gave tlx' (diase a few shots 
from his bow gnns, Avlii( h indnced her to heave to. 
Captain ]Manly ordered them to send their boat 
aboard, and on receiving, in reply, '' Onr boat won't 
swim," he called ont, '' Then sink in \\vv. Yon shall 
come on board or I will tire into yon!" This an- 
swer had the desired (^fl'ect, for in a few minntes they 
sent a boat aboard. The prizes were the English 
]>rivateers l/(i.:(inl, of eighteen gnns, from Liver|)ool, 
and the Adrviitiurr, of tlie same force, from (ilasgow. 
The only man of the Americans hnrt was the sailing 
master of the Juxoti — the one who first discovered 
the brigs — who Avas strn<dv in the head by a shot. lie 
died a few days later. As soon as possible the \)v\^- 
oners were placed in irons, and after a few days' sail 
the three vessels arrived saf(dy at Boston. 

('a])tain ^lanly had been in Boston only a few 
days when he learned that a large fleet of British 
mer(diantmen homeward bonnd was skirting the 
New England coast. Tie hast(MUMl aboard the .lusoji 
and pnt to sea with all dis])at(di, in hopes of falling 
in with the traders. Early in Angnst, when th(^ pri- 
vateer had becm ont only a few days, and by carry- 
ing a ]»ress of sail had readied the Xantnidvot 
Shoals, there Ix'ing a heavy fog at the time, the man 
at the masthead cried ont, " A sail ahead within om^ 
<-able's length [seven hnndred and twenty feet] of 



j9S CAPTAIN JOHN MANLY. 1779. 

us! '■ The Jaso)i ran under the stranger's stern, and, 
in response to First Officer Thayer's hail, was in- 
formed that they were from Liverpool, bound for 
New York. Captain ^lanly, who had been below, 
now came on dcilc and told ^Ir. Thayer that he 
would fire a shot at her so as to make the vessel 
heave to. A s;un accordinji'ly was trained on the 
strani;'('r, but before it could be discharged a sea- 
man called out, "A sail to windward!" and almost 
at the same instant the man in the for(4op shouted, 
"There is a fleet beai'iui; down upon us!" Feeling 
that it was imprudent to run into a large fleet, which 
undoubtedly would have a strong escort, C^aptain 
Manly stood noi-thward until he judged himself 
clear. After sailing one hour on this course the foo- 
lifted, revealing to the astonished Americans forty 
large sails, with a heavy ship astern of them. This 
last vessel, on making the privateer out, crowded 
all sail as if to escape. The Jaxoa made after her 
under a press of canvas and gained very fast. Cap- 
tain ]Manly, who with ]Mr. Thayer was ( losely watcdi- 
ing the <diase, suddenly discovercMl that tlu' stranger 
had drags out, which, notwithstanding the large area 
of sail she was carrying, greatly retarded her prog- 
ress through the water. Captain Manly instantly 
saw through the trick, and I'emarked to S\v. Thayer: 
" That shi]) has got drags alongside and means to 
tra]) us. W(^ will go about and try them." Accord- 
ingly the privateer's course was changed, upon which 
the stranger immediately imitated the maneuver and 
made every effort to overtake her. The Englishman 
— for tlun-e could now Ix^ no doubt of her nationality 
— soon proved that she was a fast sailer and was 
rapidly overhauling the -/r/.soy?, having conn* within 
two gunshots of her, wIhmi, fortunately for the 
Americans, the fog rolled over again, aud by (diang- 
ing his course Cai)tain Manly eluded his crafty foe. 

Standing eastward a few days, after this narrow 
escape, a sail to leeward was reported and the Jason 



1779. AGREEABLE COMPANY. IJjC) 

crowded on all sail in pursnit. In two honrs the 
stranger's hull was visible from the privateer's deck. 
At this juncture the man at the main topmast head 
reported: "Two sails bearing down on the ship we 
are chasing." As it was now dark, Captain Manly 
deemed it prudent to give over the chase and to run 
under (»as,v sail until the following morning. At 
dawn he discovered two ships in (diase of the Jason, 
their hulls well above the horizon and apparently 
gaining very fast. All hands were sent to (piarters, 
and the guns on both sides were manned preparatory 
to a desperate fight. Soon one of the shii)s came 
under the privateei*'s starboard quarter, when the 
man in the mainto]) rei)orle<l that he recognized the 
ship as the American frigate Dcdiic, and that he 
could make out her commander as Captain James 
Nicholson, the man having at one time served in that 
ship under Niclndson. After a careful scrutiny 
through the glass Captain ^lanly was satisfied that it 
was Niclndson an<l that t e frigate was the Dcaiic, 
a ship that ^lanly was dostined soon to command. 
After exchanging hails INlanly went aboard Wn^ l)((tnc. 
The other ship was the 24-gun frigate Boston, Cap- 
tain Samuel Tucker. These three vessels sailed in 
company ten or tw(dve days, when the Jason ])arted 
with them, giving and receiving a salute of thirteen 
guns. 

Iiunning eastward, after his separation from the 
American frigatc^s, " tln^ s]iii)'s company had pork 
served out to them," records one of the JasoiTs men. 
" Thirty-two picM-es Avere hung over the sliii)'s side to 
soak overnight. The next morning a man Avont to 
his rope, and on pulling it up found the rope bit and 
the pork gone. Every man ran to his rope and foun<l 
them bitten in the same Avay. They Avent aft and 
looked over the taffrail an<l saAV a shark un<ler the 
stern. Our ca])tain came on deck and or<lered the 
boatswain to bring him a shark hook. He baited 
it Avith three pounds of pork. The shark took hold 



200 CAPTAIN JOHN MANLY. 1779. 

of the bait aud booked liiiiiself. We made the chain 
fast to the main brace, and Avhen we got him half- 
way np he slapped his tail and stove in fonr panes of 
the cabin windows. We got a bit of a rope ronnd his 
tail and i)nlled him on boar<l, and when he fonnd 
himself on deck he drove the man from the helm 
and broke two spcdvcs of the wheel. The cari)enter 
took an axe and strnck liini on the ne(dv, which cut 
his head nearly off, the boatswain ti(dclinii' tlie shark 
under the belly with a handspike to keep his eyes 
off the carpenter. When he had nearly bled to death 
the car])enter gave him another blow, whi( h severed 
his head from the body. Our <-aptain then or<lered 
the steward to giv(^ tlie sliii>'s company two casks 
of butter and the cook to prepare the shark for the 
people's dinner, lie was eleven and a half feet 
long." 

About eight days after the adventure with the 
shark, a sail ahead was reported. Captain Manly 
gave (base, and in six hours came u]) witli the 
stranger, whi<di proved to be a IJritish privateer from 
r>ristol, England, for Uarbadoes. ]\Ir. Thayer was 
put aboard to take possession, and sent bacdv her 
master with four men and two bags of dollars which 
they luid just taken from a Spanish vessel. A prize 
master and crew were then placed aboard the ship 
and carried her safely into Boston. The privateer 
mounted sixteen O-ponnders, and had a valuable 
cargo of beef, pork, (dieese, hats, etc. 

Continuing eastward for several days aft(^r this 
capture without sighting a sail, Cai>tain Manly 
changed his course northwest, and in a few days was 
on the NewfouiKlland l>anks. While cruising in this 
vicinity a sail was discovered bearing down on the 
J(is())L ^Nlanly waited for her to conn/ up, and on hail- 
ing learned that she was a neutral from ^fartinique, 
and so short of water that her master offered to give 
a barrel of sugar or rum for every barrel of water 
the privateer could spare. Manly sent over four bar- 



1779. BATTLE WITH A FRIGATE. 201 

rels of the indispensable liquid, and received in re- 
turn two barrels of sugar and two of rum. The mas- 
ter of the merchantman came aboard the Jasou. 
" He dined and supped with us and went on board 
his vessel about ten o'( lock." 

Earlv on the 30th of Sei)tember a sail was dis- 
covered on the starboard beam. As it was calm at 
the time Captain Manly could not chase, but about 
eiglit (>'(dock in the morning a light breeze sprang 
u]>, and the stranger, feeling it first, came toward 
the ]>rivateer rapidly. Kecognizing her to be a ship 
of force Captain Manly made sail from her, but after 
an all-day run the stranger, about eleven o'clock at 
niglit, managed to get under the Jason's port quarter. 
On hailing she was found to be the British frigate 
Sin-prisr,^ at that time one of the swiftest vessels 
in the British navy. 

"What ship is that?" demanded the English- 
man. 

" Tlie United States 32-gun frigate Dcaiic,"' re- 
sponded Captain Manly. 

" ITeave to or we will fire into you," came a voice 
from the frigate. 

" Fire away and be damned. We have got as 
many guns as you," defiantly answered ^[anly. T^pon 
this the ^^iirprise (hdivered her broadside. Manly 
reserved his fi]-e until fairly abreast of his enemy. 
Before the Americans o]>eiied witli their guns the 
British delivered anotlu^r broadside, which cut some 
of the ])rivateer's rigging and (Irove the men out 
of her to])s. When fairly alongside of tlie frigate 
Captain ^lanly ])oiired a l)roadside into his opponent 
which silenced two of the enemy's forward guns. 
The next broadside cut away the Englishman's main 
toj)sail and drove her maintop men to the deck. Both 
vessels now maintained a ra])id fire until one o'clock 
in the morning. By that time the Jaso)i\s studding 

^ By aiiotlier aet-ouiit it was the Pefseus. 
IG 



202 CAPTAIN JOHN MANLY. 1770, 

saiLs and booms, her canvas, riggino;, and yards, were 
so injured as to be nnmanageable. Battle lanterns 
were hung on nails along the inside of the bulwarks 
between the guns so as to enable the gunners to see 
how to load and tire, but these were eonstantly 
shaken down bv the concussion resulting from the 
recoil of the guns. It was so dark that the men could 
not liandle tlie cannon. At this moment the men 
forward broke ojxm the fore hatidies and ran below, 
refusing to tight against a frigat(\ Noticing that 
the forAvard guns were silent, Captain Manly sent 
the sailing master to ascertain the causi^ of it, but 
that officer* did not return. ^lanly then siMit the mas- 
ter's mate on the same errand, but lu^ also failed to 
return. 

Kealizing the lioixdcssuess of fighting a regular 
man-of-war and liis own mutinous men at the same 
time, Captain Manly seized his ti-ump(4 and called 
for quarter; then returning to the men who had re- 
maine<l faithful to him he ordered tlKun into the 
cabin to receive tlieir shares of the i)rize money. The 
two bags (»f didlars taken from the British priva- 
teer a few days before were emptied on a table and 
shared out to the nu^n according to their stations. 
"Eight dolhu'S were given to m(\" sai<l the boy 
Davis, " as my shar(\ I w<^nt on deck and found the 
ship r(Mding one way and tln^ other. The helms- 
man was killed and no one to take the wheel. The 
rigging, sails, yards, etc., were s])i*(»ad all over the 
deck. The wounded ukmi were carried to the cock- 
pit, the dead men lying on the decdc and no one to 
thi'ow th(Mii overboard. The well men were gone 
b(dow to get their clothes in order to go on board 
the frigate. Soon after the frigat(^'s longboat came, 
with their first li(Mitenant and about twenty sailors 
and marines, when every man that could be found 
on deck was drove into tlu^ boat. T went down into 
the steward's room in order to stay on b(>ar(l until 
we got into port. The doctor bad me stay with him 



177i). PLAN TO RECAPTURE THE JASON. s><>?, 

and attend to the wounded. The next night, about 
hvelve o'cloek, one of the marines went into the hohl 
to .net some water. He overheard some of our men 
hillcinj;' and list<Mied to th(Mn, and lieard tliem say 
that at two o'chx-k they inten<hMl risinj.*- on llie men 
on decdv and carryinj^' th(^ sliip into Boston. The 
man w(Mit on dvvk and told liis officer wliat lie had 
lieard. The ofHcer took all his men into the cabin 
and armed tliem with i»istols and cuthisses, and went 
int<> the hold and ordered every man to coiiu^ for- 
ward or he would destroy them. They all, to the 
amount of thirty-two men, came forward and were 
jiut in irons by the feet. I was taken from the doctor 
and i)iit in irons with the rest. In the course of ten 
days we arrived at Rt. John's, Newfoundland, October 
10th. We w<'r(^ all taken out of irons and or(hn'ed 
on deck to be searcduMl for tlu^ money we had shared 
amonji' us when we were taken. I tcxdc four (h)llars 
out of my ])0(dcet and hid them in the lininjiis of the 
ship, in orchn' to sav(^ them from the |)lun(h'rers. I 
went on deck, when they seari lied me and took the 
oth(M' four d(dlars from me. I went below again to 
get my money, but, alas! it was gone." 

In this action the Jason had eighteen men killed 
and 1^^■(dve wouiKh'd, while the English had seven 
killed and a number injur«Ml. Arriving at St. John's 
('a])tain Manly was called befori^ Kear-Admiral Ed- 
wards, of the vjO-gun ship Parlhrnd, and asked Ids 
luime. Our privateersman re])lied, " John Manly." 

" Are you not the same John Manly that com- 
manded a ])rivateer from Hoston called the (Utlinii- 
hid'!"' [CimilKrhiiKl] asked the admirah 

" Yes," said ('a]>tain Manly. 

" Were you not taken by his majesty's slii]) 
TIudhIvvv)- [PonioiKi'!] and carried into Barl)a(b>es? " 
questioned Admiral Edwards. 

'' Yes,'' calmly reidied the American commander. 

" Did you not go to the jail keeper and bribe him, 
make your escape out of jail, take a king's tender 



204 CAPTAIN JOHN MANLY. 1779-1783. 

by ni.iilit, ]nil the iiion in irons, and carr}^ her into 
Philadelphia? " thundered the admiral. 

To these questions Manl^^ made no answer, as he 
did not wish to incriminate the jail keeper. There- 
ui)on Admiral Edwards informed iNEaul^' that he was 
to be sent to England in irons and confined in Mill 
Prison to the end of the war. This threat was car- 
ried out to the letter, excepting'' that in 1782 Manly 
was exchan!Li(Ml. ^Nlakino' his way to France he 
reached Boston and was at once placed in com- 
mand of the 32-gun frigate JJcaiic, the same to which 
he had spoken while cruising in the privateer Jason. 
Getting to sea in this favorite ship Captain Manly 
made for the West Indies, and in the course of thir- 
teen days took a valual)le shi]) of twenty guns laden 
with provisions for the Pritish army in New York. 
Soon afterward he was driven into Martinique by a 
50-gun ship and a frigate, where he was blockaded 
until peace was declared. 



rnAPTEH XYI. 

CLOSING YEARS OF THE WAR. 

Speakixc; of tbe laud operations of the Aiueri- 
caus, Henry Cabot Lod^e, in his Story of the Kevo- 
liition, describes the hist three years of the war as 
the most critical in onr stru*;ole for indei)endence. 
He says: " When Washinjuton retreated throu<»h the 
Jerseys in 1770 it looked as if the end had come, 
but at least there had been hard tiohtinj;-, and the 
end was to be met, if at all, in the open held, with 
arms in hand and all the chances that war and 
action and courajie conld <;iye. Now, four years 
later, the lieyolntion seemed to be ii,oinii' down in 
mere inaction throni^h the ntter helplessness of 
what ])assed for the central <»;oyernment. To those 
who looked bcMU'ath the surface the prospect was 
]>i'(»f<)nndly dishearteninii'. It was a yery dark hour, 
jKM'liaps the darkest of tlie whole war. . . . Tn Octo- 
ber, 17S(), he [Washiiii^ton] wrote: ' Onr present dis- 
tresses are so i;reat and complicated that it is 
scarctdy '\^■ithin the ])(»w(M's of descri])ti<>n to «iye an 
a<hM|natc idea of them. . . . We are without money, 
without ])r.oyisi(nis and fora,n(s excerpt what is taken 
by im])ress; without clothinii', and shortly shall be, 
in a manner, without men.' . . . To younji' Laurens, 
o'oino- abroad, AN'ashiuiiton wrot<^ that our only hope 
was in financial aid from Euro])e; without it the 
next cam])ai,iin would fiickei- out and the Reyolu- 
tion die. .Money and superiority of sea power, he 
cried, w(M'e what we must haye. ... It was Gouyer- 

205 



206 CLOSING YEARS OF THE WAR. 1 780-1 78'2. 

iHMir Morris who wrote: 'Finance. Ah, my friend, 
all that is left of the American Kevohition ^rounds 
there.' " ^ A careful study of the situation at this 
time will show that our privateers supplied a very 
considerable — if not a supremacy of — sea power for 
the struiiii'linj;' colonists toward the close of the 
Kevohition, and were tlu^ means of transporting' mu- 
nitions of war and money across the Atlantic. 

The last three years of the war for American 
inde])en(lence were marked by an almost complete 
sus]HMisi()n of maritime activity on the part of Con- 
tinental war ships, and a remarkable increase in the 
numVu'r and activity of our ])rivateers. By the fall 
of Charleston, in INIay, 1780, the 28-fiun frigate Pror'i- 
dvnc(\ \\w 28-oun frigate Qiicni of Fnuicv, the 24-gun 
frigate /io.sfoii, and the 18-gun ship sloop Ixaut/cr, of 
Cai>tain John Paul Jones fame, were captured or 
destroyed. This left the United States with only six 
war craft: the 32-gun frigate AUiancv, the 32-gun 
frigate Coiifcdcnici/, the 82-gun frigate Dcnuc, the 
28-gun frigate TniiiihiiU, the 20-gun ship Dnc <]c 
LdKzini, and the 18-gun ship S(ir<it()(i<i. Of these ves- 
sels, the TnnuhuU was captured in 1781, and in 1780 
the Saratof/a put to sea and was never heard from, 
it being supposed that slu' had foundered. The 
(Unifvdvnicji was captured by the enemy in 1781, so 
that oidy the .\Hhnic<\ the Dcaiie, the T)iic dc Laiizun, 
and the (iciicni] WdsJiiiif/foii — the last captured from 
the British in 1782— were left to carry the flag of 
the newborn aiation on the high seas. 

It can r(^a<lily be understood, therefore, that had 
it not been for our privateers the Stars and Stripes 
AVouTd have Ixhmi, for all practical purposes, com- 
])l(4(dy swept from the seas. It was the astonish- 
ing developim^nt (►f this form of maritime warfare 
that enabled the struggling colonists to hold their 
own on the ocean. In the year 1780 two hundred 

' See Scribzier's Magazine for November, 1898. 



1780-1782. GREAT INCREASE IN PRIVATEERING. 9(i7 

and twenty-eight American privateers were commis- 
sioned, carrying in all three thousand four hundred 
and twenty guns; in 1781 there were four hundre<l 
and forty-nine, with about six thousand seven hun- 
dred and thirty-five guns; and in 1782 three hundred 
and tAventy-three, mounting four thousand eight hun- 
dred and forty-five guns. It is very nnndi to be re- 
gretted that many of the cruises and actions of these 
craft have not been recorded. A number of battles 
were fought, daring raids on the enemy's coasts were 
undertaken, and many heroic incidents occurred that' 
might well fill a volume of most valuable historical 
reading; but as these vesscds sailed merely in a pri- 
vate capacity most of their logs were lost a few years 
after they returned to port, and what data have been 
l)reserved are, as a rule, meager and fragmentary. 
Enough, however, is known to show that these pri- 
vate ventures were fraught with thrilling incidents, 
and were most imi)ortant in their bearing on the 
results of the war. 

Among the first ])rivateers to get to sea in 1780 
was the 2-gun schoonei* (iKiiicr, Captain N. Palmer. 
This little vessel was manned by only fifteen men. 
She was commissioned in PiMinsylvania and took 
oiK^ v(^ss(d, a sloop, as a prize. , , 

The 10-gun s<diooner Ilofx, ('a]>tain N. (Joodwin, 
got to sea in the same year and made sevei/al-'cap- 
tures. Two years later, while off the coast of Labra- 
<lor, sh<^ was taken by an English brig carrying 
sixteen guns. The EnglishnK^i took their prize into 
one of the liarboi's near by, and while lying there 
the crew of the Hope, numbering only twenty-one 
men, rose on their ca])tors, overpowered the brig's 
peo]>le, and carried her into Beverly, Massachusetts, 
the home port of the Hope. 

Almost as successful was the 1 2-gun sloop (iV- 
faJidfiiHi, (''ai)tain \V. Havens — afterward com- 
manded by Captain E. Hart. This vessel was com- 
missioned from Tonnecticut in 1780, but it seems 



208 CLOSING YEARS OP THE WAR. 1778-1780. 

that she had made a cruise in the preceding year, 
and while off ^^t. Kitts, May 14, 1779, she was at- 
tacked by a British armed cutter and a brig. The 
enemy made several attempts to board, but each 
time were repulsed with heavy loss. They finally 
sheered off and left the IxvtdUation to make the best 
of her way to an American port. 

About a year after this, on June 12, 1780, the 
10-gun sloop (U)iiicf, Captain (\ Harris, of Pennsyl- 
vania, fell in with a convoy of British merchantmen 
off Sandy Hook, and by adroit maneuvering cap- 
turcMl eight of them, which were sent into Pliila- 
deli)hia. The Coiiicf was commissioned in 1778 
and carried a complement of fifty ukmi. There 
seems to be no record of her having mad(^ any other 
prizes. 

On the 22(1 of October, 1780, the Kl-gun priva- 
teer Mpcr, Oa])taiii William AVilliams, saihMl from 
Boston, and early in November sighte<l a sail bear- 
ing down on. her near ('a])e Hatteras. ('ai)tain Wil- 
liams at (tncc^ gave cliase, whereupon the stranger 
turned in flight. About noon the two vessels were 
within pistol shot, when the Americans showed their 
colors and dcliviM-cd a broadside, to which the chase 
replied after hoisting English colors. A spirited 
cannonade folhtwed for half an hour, when the 
Englishman drew ahead. ('a])tain Williams then 
portiul his ludm ami managed to deliver a raking 
fire. At this tiiue the American commander I'eceived 
a musket ball in his breast, which caused his death 
six hours later. Soiue confusion occurring in the 
I'/'/ur at this moment, the Englishman made his 
escape. Afterward it was learned that she was the 
10-gun privateer llcffi/, of New York. Captain Wil- 
liams was the only man injured in the American 
vessel. The first officer of the T^//)rr now headed for 
the rai)es of the Delaware, intending to make Phila- 
delphia. On the following day he captured the ship 
M(ir(j<uvi, hiden with beef, pork, butter, and porter, 



1781. CAPTURES BY THE PILGRIM. 209 

from South Carolina for New York, which was car- 
ried safely into Philadelphia. 

The year 1781 opened with a hard-fonght action 
between the IS-gun ship PiJ(/riiii, CajUain J. Robin- 
son, of ^Massachusetts, and the heavily armed British 
ship Mdij/, of twenty-two i^uns. In the year 1771) the 
Pih/rini had made three i)rizes with valuable car- 
goes. While at sea, January 5, 1781, she fell in 
with the Mitri/, whicii was manned by eiii'lity-three 
men, under the command of Captain Stowards. One 
of the most desperate actions between privateers 
in this war resulted. The Englishmen finally were 
overcome, but not until tlunr commander and a num- 
ber of the crew had been killed. The American loss 
also was very serious and both vessels were badly 
shattered. 

We get an interesting side light on this cruise of 
the Pihjriiit in the account of a seaman named 
Joshua. He says: 'M)n the Kith of :\Iay, 1781, I 
entered on board of the privateer E.ssc.r, of twenty 
guns, Captain John Cathcart, and sailed from Bos- 
ton on the 22d of the same month to cruise off Cape 
Clear. On the 4th of June, about four o'(d(M-k in the 
afternoon, we discovered a sail directly ahead of 
us. We had to pul away until they hoisted their 
(•(dors, and when we hoist(Ml we found them to be 
English. Our cai>tain said he would not attack her, 
as she ai)]>eare(l to b(^ a 2(l-gun copp(M'ed shi]) and 
full of men, for fear of spoiling our cruise. She 
chas(Ml us all that night, and in the morning we 
found that she had carried away her main topmast 
and gave over the chase. W(^ ran on for two days, 
when the man at the masthead cried out, 'A sail!' 
whi(di we stood for, when she made a signal whi(di 
we knew and r(4urne(l. She came alongside of us 
and proved to be tlu^ PihiriDi, Captain Kobinson, who 
came on board of us and informed [us] that he had 
taken five prizes out of the Jamaica fleet. Captain 
Robinson being the oldest commander, ordered our 



210 CLOSING YEARS OF THE WAR. 1781. 

(•ii[>tain 1() follow him while they cruised together 
off the coast of Ireland. The next day both gave 
chase to a ship to the leoAvard and came up with 
her. Hhe i)roved to be the privateer Defenf<c, of 
eighteen guns, out of Salem, and kept company with 
us. Next day we gave chase to a brig, which w(^ 
found to be fi-om Barbadoes for Cork, with invalids, 
very leaky, and all hands at the pumps; ha<l been 
taken by the privateer Ji(niibhi\ fi-om Salem, who 
gaA*e them a passport to go on. The /'ih/riiit boarded 
her first and let her proceed. We aftcM-ward boarded 
her and took two O-pounders and a few sails from 
them. Next morning a sail was discovered ahead; 
the Plhjrhii gave chase and we followed her, the 
l>('f()is(' following us. About one o'(dock another 
sail was st^en on oui' larboard | ])ort | beam, to which 
we gave <diase, and in two hours ran her hull down. 
A\'(^ soon found that she was too heavy for us, when 
we hove al)out and stood from her. She gave chase 
and came up with us very fast, and gave us a shot 
A\iii(di sti-uck alongside, when our captain ordered 
the (|uartermaster to pull down the colors. They 
sent an otticer on board, who told our liiMiteuant that 
their ship was the (^)ii('cii ('li(ii-I()tl<\ of thirty-two 12- 
and 9-]M>uud(M-s, from TiOndon. Wo were all sent on 
board of lici- and put in irons. In the meantime the 
/*il(ir'nii got uj) to the ship we first gave chase to, 
and by Ikm- signal we perceived her to be the Rtinthhr 
]»rivat(M^r." Joshua, with liis unfortunate shi])- 
mates, was carried to Eugbnul and coufimMl there 
to the close of the war. 

Three othiM' j>rivate armed American vessels boi'e 
(lie name Plhjriiir. One a KJ-gun brig with ninety 
men, under Captain IT. Craiw, from Connecticut, 
which in 1TS2 captured a vessel witli a cargo of 
tobacco; another a brig of four guns and fourteen 
men, under ra])tain M. Strong, from Pennsylvania; 
and the third an 8-gun brig with eighteen men, 
under Cai>tain J. Starr, from Virginia. 



1781. THE OUNGKESS-SAVAGE BATTLE. 211 

In February, 1781, the 10-i>iin bri<;- //o/Ar/, Ca})- 
taiii Iv. Keaii, of Peimsylvania, fell in with the Brit- 
ish cutter Hi/pocriic, of sixteen li'uns, and after an 
action of fifteen minutes captured her, with a loss 
of three killed and one wounded, the enemy having- 
four killed and seven wounded. In the following 
year, while cruisint;- in the West Indies, the Ilolhr 
fouj^ht the 18-i;uii ship Expcriiiwiit. These vessels 
were hotly enjiaii'ed, and the result was still in 
doubt when another American i)riyateer appeared 
on the scene, whi(di induced the E.rpcf'uiiviit to 
sheer off. 

One of the most creditable actions of this war 
in which an American privateer was eni;a<ied took 
place on September (I, 17S1. It had been the habit 
of the smaller British cruisers stationed on the 
North AnuM'ican coast to send boat expeditions at 
night for the pur])ose of ]dund(n'ing estates along 
the shore. One of tln^ most i)ersistent English com- 
manders in this questionable style of warfare was 
Captain Sterling, of the IG-gun slooj) (d' war HanK/r. 
About the time mentioned Oaptain Sterling had 
been exploring Chesapeake Bay, and on one occa- 
sion sent a boat expedition to Blount ^^ernon and 
plundered Washington's estate. Soon after the 
lSara<n' had put to sea from the Chesapeake, and was 
cruising off the coast of (Jeorgia in searcdi of other 
estates to ])lunder, she f(dl in with the Aineri<-an 
privateer Coiup-csn, of twenty-foui' guns and two hun- 
dred UKMi, under the command of Captain Ceorge 
Creddes, of rhiladelphia. ^Nlr. (leddes, as w(^ have 
noticed, luul been a highly successful ofticfM' in the 
privateer service, having two years Ixd'ore com- 
manded the 10-gun bi'ig floJlyr, in which he made a 
most creditable record. 

Upon making out the (''<in(/)-css to be an American 
war craft of su])erior forc(% Ca])tain Sterling made 
all sail to escape, u])on which the Coiif/rcs.s gave 
chase. It was early in tln^ mornin<r when the two 



212 CLOSING YEARS OF TPIE WAR. 1781. 

vessels discovered each other, and by half past ten 
o'clock the American had gained so much that she 
was able to open with her bow chasers, and by 
eleven o'clock Captain Geddes was close on the Eng- 
lishman's quarter, when he opened a rapid fire of 
small arms, to which the enemy answered with 
energy. Observing that he had the swifter ship of 
the two. Captain Geddes forged ahead until he got 
fairly abreast of his antagonist, when a fierce broad- 
side duel took place. Notwithstanding the Ameri- 
can superiority in armament, this fire at close range 
so injured the privateer's rigging that it became un- 
manageable, and Captain Geddes was compelled' to 
fall back to make repairs. As soon as he had com- 
j)leted this work, the Coiif/nss again closed on the 
S(ir<t</<' and engaged in a heavy cannon fire. In the 
course of an hour the Englishman was reduced to 
a wreck, the vessels at times being so near each 
other that the men fre(]uently were scorched by the 
flashes of the oi)posing cannon; and it is even as- 
serted lliat shot were thrown with effect by hand. 
Seeing that the Englishman was reduced to a de- 
plorable condition, that his quarter-deck and fore- 
castle were swept clear of men, and that his mizzen- 
mast had gone by the board, while the mainmast 
threatened to follow it, Cai)tain Geddes prepared to 
board and settle the sanguinary conflict on the 
enemy's decks. 

Just as the Americans were about to carry out 
this ]irogrammc the boatswain of the l^drdf/r ap- 
peared on the forecastle, and waving his cap an- 
nounced that they had surrendered, upon which 
Ca])tain Geddes immediately took possession. The 
Englishmen's losses, according to their own state- 
ments, were eight killed and twenty-four wounded, 
while those of the Americans were thirty killed or 
wounded. Among the enemy's killed was Captain 
Sterling himself, who appears to have fought with 
the most determined braveiy. Unfortunately Cap- 



1781. 



PEABODY REPULSES "GUERRILLA BOATS." 



21-' 



tain Geddes was not able to secure his prize, as 
both vessels were captured by a British fi'ii;ate and 
carried into Charleston. The CoiHj)rs/-t was taken 
into the British service under the name of DkcIic.s.s 
of CidiihcrldiKl, Captain Samuel ^larsh, an<l was 
wrecked off the coast of Newfoundland soon after- 
ward while on her wa^' to England with American 
prisoners.^ 

That our privateersmen in the Kevolution were 
exposed to attacks other than those from their open 
enen^ies is seen in the following account of Thomas 
Went worth Higginson. In the 
winter of 1781 tlie 8-gun priva- 
teer brig I\<iii(/('r, Ca]>tain T. Sim- 
mons, sailed from Salem with a 
cargo of salt for Bichmond, A^ir- 
ginia. The cargo being disposed 
of at that pert, the RdiKjvr 
loaded with Hour at Alexandria 
for Havana. "• I'art of the 
flour," says ^Ir. Higginson, 
''■ being fi'om (leiieral Washing- 
ton's plantation, was received 
at Havana at the marked 
weight; all was sold, and the 
Ixuiujcr returned to Alexandria for another freight. 
Anchoring at the mouth of the Potomac, because 
of head winds, the ofticers turned in, but were 
aroused before midnight by the watch, with news 
that large boats were coming toward the ship 
from difi'erent directions. Simmons and Second Offi- 
cer Jose])h Peabody rushed to the <le(d<;, the latter 
in his night (lot lies. As they reached it a volley of 
mnsketry im^t them, and the captain fell wounded. 
Peabody ran forward, shouting to the crew to seize 
the boarding pikes, and he himself attacked some 
men who were (dimbing on bcKird. Meantime an- 




Joseph Peabody. 



' Sec jiage 125. 



214 CLOSING YEARS OF THE WAR. 1781-1782. 

oUicr strange boat opeiied fire from another quarter. 
All was confusion; they knew n<>t who were their 
assailants or whence; the captain lay helpless, the 
first (►fiicer was servini*' out animnnition, and Pea- 
body, still conspicnons in his white raiment, had 
command of the devk. Two boats were already 
grappled to the Ixdin/cr; he ordered cold shot to be 
dropped into them, and friiihtened one crew so that 
it cast off; then he ordered his men a.^ainst the other 
boat, shontin.n', ' We have sunk one, boys; now let us 
sink th(^ oilier I' His men (dieered, and presently both 
boats (lroi)i)ed astern, leavinin one of the Rditijcr's 
crew dead and three woumhMl. I*eabody himself 
was hurt in three jdaces, not counting the loss of 
his club of hair, worn in the fashion of those days, 
wlii( h had been shot (dean off, and was found on 
dec k the next morning. The enemy proved to be a 
guerrilla band of Tories, whose rendezvous was at 
St. George's Island, near where the Ranr/fr lay at 
anchor. There had been sixty men in their boats, 
while the crew of the R<ni(/i r numbered twenty; and 
the same guerrillas had lat(dy captured a brig of 
seven guns and thirty men by the same tactics, 
which the i)romptness of Peabody had foiled." 

A month after the brilliant action between the 
(Utiu/i-css and the i'^(ir<i</c the 14-gun brig Fair America, 
Taptain S. Chaplin, of Connecticut, in company with 
the ])rivateer ffollir, captured four English mer- 
(diantmen. 

No b(4ter illustration of the extraordinary de- 
velo]>ment of ]n'ivateering during the TJevolution can 
be had than the manner in whi( h they made con- 
certed attacks upon the English toward the latter 
part of the war. Not content with merely captur- 
ing th(^ enemy''s mere hantmen — and even cruisers — 
our ]>rivatcers arranged expeditions against the 
<ommon foe in squadrons, and attacked towns. 

Early in IMarch, 1782, four American privateers 
united in an attacdv on a squadron of armed British 



1783. PRIVATEERS ATTACK IN SQUADRONS. 21.") 

vessels at Tortola, in the West Indies. Amon^- tlie 
American craft were the Ilolkcr and tlie 20-gnn ship 
Jintiiis Jtnihis, liavino' a complement of one hundred 
and twenty men, under Captain N. Broadliouse. Un- 
fortunately the details of this ambitious expedition 
have not been preserved, but enonf«h is known to 
show that a seven^ en<>a<;ement resulted and two 
of the enemy's vessels were cai>tured. 

In July, 1782, four Ann^rican ])rivate(M's united 
in the attack on the town of l.uenburi;'. They were 
the 9-^un schooner II (lo, Captain (t. Babcock; the 
(>-^un bri<>' Hope, Cai>tain H. Woodbury; the 2-oun 
cutter Siralloir, Captain J. Tibbets, and on(» other. 
The first two were from Massaidiusetts, and car- 
ried twenty-five and thirty-five men, respectively, 
while the ^tcdlloir was from New Hampshire, and 
Iiad a complement of only tw(mty men. Landinj;- a 
force of men to attack the town from the shore, the 
four privateers entered- the harbor and soon had 
the place in their possession. After holding: it some 
time they released the town on a payment of one 
thousand pounds. 

Another instance of concerted action amonp; 
American privateers was that in which the 10-oun 
ship (iKiniiiiH/ SdJJi/, Captain T. Dunn, of ^Fassachu- 
setts, took part. This privateer, in company with 
other private armed craft, some time in 17S2, at- 
tacked the foi'uiidable En;Lilish ship Blazr (Uistle, 
carryinji' twenty-six iiiuns. An action of two hours' 
duration followed, when the enemy surrendered, the 
loss to the Americans bein^' five killed or wounded. 

In this year the British made a dai'inu' and suc- 
cessful attem])t to cut out of (lloucester harbor the 
ship IliirvUi, which they manned and S(Mit to sea 
with the intention of runniuij,' her into Halifax. Be- 
fore reacdiinii' that ])ort, however, the Ihinict f<dl in 
with the American ])rivateer (Uiicntl Siillirdii, a bri"; 
of fourteen nuns and one hundred men, under Cap- 
tain T. DallinjT^', of New Hampshire, and was recap- 



216 CLOSING YEARS OP THE WAR. 1782. 

tured. Four years before this the General Sullivan 
had taken the British ship Marti, of eight guns. 

It was in 17S2 that Captain D. Adams, of the 
10-gun sloop Liveli/, of Massachusetts, had the pleas- 
ure of rescuing the ofrteers and men of the Brit- 
ish frigate lilnnde tliat had been wrecked on a 
barren island, where tlic Englishmen must have 
perished in a short time had they not been dis- 
covered. 

In October the IG-gun schoon('r ^^eaunnel, Captain 
N. Stoddard, of Massachusetts, was chased ashore 
on tlie New Jersey coast by two Britisli war ships. 
The enemy endeavored to send tluMr boats aboard 
to make sure of the destruclion of tlie privateer, but 
they met with such a hot tii-e that they were com- 
I)el]e(l to retire. Shortly afterward the >>eaiinnel got 
afloat, and having sustaininl no material injury 
made her way to i)ort. 

In the same montii Cai)tain S. Thompson, of 
]Massachus(^tts, led a small party of men in a row- 
boat in an attack on a British packet ship. After 
skirmishing two hours the Americans were com- 
pelled to retire, having sustained a loss of three 
killed and ten wounded. Soon after this Mr. Thomp- 
son captured a snow laden with oats, and in the 
following November he took a ship with a cargo 
of fish. 

These captures were among the last made by 
American ])rivateers in the Bevolution. The entire 
number of vessels taken in this struggle from the 
British by our maritime forces, including the Con- 
tinental cruisers, was about eight hundred, of which 
one hundred and ninety-eight were secured by craft 
commissioned directly by Congress and the remain- 
ing six liundred were taken by private enterprise. 
Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the audacity 
of our privateers was the number of king's cruisers 
taken by them. Not more than twelve regular war 
ships were taken by the Continental cruisers, while 



1793. ATALANTE-ANTELOPB FIGHT. 217 

sixteen vessels of this class were captured by our 
privateers or by private enterprise.^ 

James, in his History of the British Navy, records 
an action between the French privateer Afahuttc and 
the British packet Aiifflopr, Captain Curtis. The 
Atdhiiifr, very lil^ely, was one of the old American 
privateers enj;aged in the war for American inde- 
pendence, and on the ch)se of that strug<>le passed 
into French hands. She was manned largely by 
American and Irish seamen, and it is probable that 
she was owned by Ameri<-ans, for we fin<l that she 
was fitted out in Charleston, South Carolina. 

James says: 'M)n the 1st of December, 1703, the 
king's pa(dvet Antelope, being off Cumberland harbor, 
in Cuba, on her way to England from Port Royal, 
Jamaica, whi(di port she had quitted three days 
previous, fell in with two French schooner priva- 
teers of formidable appearance. The packet imme- 
diately bore up for Jamaica, and was followed, under 
all sail, by the privateers. The Afalanfe, one of the 
two, outsailing her consort, continued the chase 
alone. During that and the following day until 4 
p. M., the pa(dvet rather gained upon her pursuer; 
but the wind suddenly failing, the latter took to her 
sweeps, and soon swept up alongside of the Antelope. 
After the exchange of a f(MV shots the schooner 
sheered off. On the 2(1, at 5 a. m., it still being calm, 
the AtaJaute again swei)t u]), and on reaching her 
opponent grappled her on the starboard side. The 
privateer then poured in a broadside, and attempted, 
under cover of the smoke, to carry the Antelope by 
boarding; but the crew of the latter drove back the 
assailants with great slaughter. 

" Among the sufferers by the privateer's broad- 
side was the packet's commander, ]Mr. Curtis, who 
fell to rise no more, as did also the steward and a 



' For romplete list see ^raclay's Tlistory of the Navy, vol. i, pp. 150, 
151. 

17 



21S 



CLOSING YEARS OF THE WAR. 



1793. 



I'l'ciicli j;eiitleiuaii, a passenger. The first mate, too, 
was shot throusih the body, but survived. The sec- 
ond mate, having died of _the fever soon after tlie 
pal-kef li.ad, sailed from Tort Koyal, the command 
now devolved uiK)n Mr. I*asco, the boatswain, who, 
with the f(MV bra'vc^,. men left, assisted by the pas- 
sengers, rei)ulsed the repeated attem'pts to board, 
made at intervals cruring the long period that the 
vessels remained lashed together. At last, the pri- 
•vateersmen, finding they had caught a tartar, cut 
'the grapplings and attemi)ted to sheer off. The 

"boatswain, observing this, ran aloft, and lashed the 
s(djooner"'s s<]uare-sail yard to the .l///r/o/>r'.s' fore 
shrouds. Immediately ji well-directed v<dlcy of 
sinall -arms was poivred into the privateer and the 
crew called for <|uarter.- This was granted, notwith- 
standing thv A f>i hill I (' hixd fought with the red or 
bloody -flag at her masthead, to indicate that no 
quai'ter would be shown by Ikm-, and possession was 
forthwith taken of the ])rize. 

' ''The Anf<l()pc mounted six H-})ounders, and had 

'sailed with twenty-seven hands, but she had lost 
four by the f<'ver and two were ill in their ham- 

" mocks; conse(i.uently, the ])acket commenced th(^ ac- 
tion with only twenty-one men exclusive of the pas- 
sengers, llei- total loss in the action was three 
killed and four wounded. The Atdldiitr mounted 
eight 8-i)oun(lers, and her com])lement was sixty- 
five uuMi, com]>osed of I'rench, Anu^ricans, and Irish. 
Of these the hrst and second captains and thirty men 
were killed and sev(Miteen ofticc^rs and men were 
wound(Ml. The .l///r/o/>r now carried her prize in 
triumph to Aiiuotta I>ay, Jamaica, where the two 
v<'ss(ds arrived on the morniiig succee<ling the action. 
The uuparalhded brav(M-y of one of the Aiifclopc's pas- 
seug<'rs, a M. Nodin, formerly a midshi])man in the 
I'l-encli navy, <leserves to be record(Ml. It is related 
<d' this young man that he stood by the helm and 
woi'ked the ship, armed with a musket and a pike. 



JOHN ADAMS^ President ofibe United States of A-mv.k\c\^ 
Xo all toljo tliall fee tljcfc prcfrnts, Orcctiiig : 

li^IlUUl J^Cj That in puiru.incc of an Aft of Congrcfs of the United States in this cafe 
jiiovidcd, palled on the ninth day of July, one thoufand feven hundred and ninety-eight, I have coni- 
miflioned, and by thcfe prcfents do commiffion the private armed ^ >'/(// ci&ti.\.\\z ^-r/j'-^xt ^<^ 
' f>i^\ih\x\\\\<tuoi^,^iieeAf't^(/ctr//fiin/^y^'i'e tons, or thereabouts, owned by *■ — ^'^ ^ 



mounting c^oji carriage guns, and navigated by "^ — ^ — C%(W/^^^ -^*-~ — men; 

hereby liccnfmg and authorizing / /ct^/iri i iCi I ^t Vcf/'^e^ *■ Ji.^^''^^^^ captain, and 

Jia//i(Hiic/ ^-ytciMc~lnC 'r\>^Y?^')!a)ic^-t- (iZ^<-<(i^,/<r^ ^ '^lieutenants of the faid 

jy ////)/ i^^_ ' and the other ofliceis and crew tliereof to fubduc, feize and take any armed 

FrenA vefTel which fliall be found within the jurifdiiflional limits of the United States, or clfewlicre 
on the high feas ; and fucli captured vcfl'el, with her apparel, guns and appurtenances, and the goods or 
effeils which {hall be found on board the fame, together with all French perfons and others, w ho lliall 
be found acting on board, to bring within fome port of the United States; and aU'o to retake .my 
vcffcls goods and etTeds of the people of the United States, which may have been captured by any 
French armed veffel ; in order that proceedings may be had concerning fuch capttne or re-capture in 
due form of laiV, and as to right and juftice lliall appertain. This commiffion to continue in force during 
the ple.ifurc of the Prefident of tlie United States for the time being. 

Given umkr my Hand am! the Seal if ik- UmL;l Stales of Jmniai, at PhilaJclpl/ia, the 

yU'rJ-Ui^fteco-nr/'layfcArilyl.cyi'l/j 'I'tht year of our LijrJ, one thciijanj jmm 

ity/t'T hwulr.J I ii r ii i iii a»J fthe huleheu knee of the fiul SlMe!. the iKenty^c^tf/^A 



5^p t{jc prcfiDciir, 

■J 



^My [Z^-/A^^-^^ i/eeni.,.,, of Cfule. 



The Preside id's letter <if »i((rr/ue to fJie privateer Herald. 
From tliH uriL'iual. 



1799. FRENCH GUNBOATS ATTACK THE LOUISA. '2\r) 

which he alternately made use of; that when he 
perceived the AtaJantes men climbing- the quarters 
of the Antelope he quitted the helm, and witli the 
pike dispatched such as came within his reach, re- 
turnin<;- at ])roper intervals to right the vessel; that 
with the pike and musket he killed or disabled sev- 
eral men, and continued his astonishiui:^ exertions 
for upward of an hour and a quarter." For this 
defense of the packet the Jamaica House of Assem- 
bly voted five liundred muini^as for distribution 
amonji' the men of the Antelope. 

Little or nothinii' was accomplished by our priva- 
teers in the war with France, owino- to the fact that 
the Fren(di had only a few merchantm(Mi at that 
time, and thes<' were contined in their ports by the 
rigor of the British blockade. There is an account 
of one action, however, in whi(di th(^ American priva- 
teer Louisa^ of Phil;ide]]>liia, defeated a number of 
Fren(di gunboats that came out to attack her off 
Algeciras. After a desultory action of some hours 
a lateen-rigged craft, tilled with men, made several 
(h'sperate attempts to carry the Ijju'isa by boai'ding, 
but was steadily repcdled. Toward the close of the 
tight the commander of the Louisa was shot through 
the shoulder, and while his first office^" was taking 
him into his cabin, to have the injury attended to, 
the crew, with the (^xcei)tion of the man at the 
wheel, deserted their stations and ran below. Ob- 
serving the confusion in the Louisa, iho Frenchmen 
rallied for a final effort, and when the first offt- 
cer came on declc again he found the encMuy <\\)- 
proacliing to board. Taking in the situation at a 
glance the (|ui(dc-witte(l officer ran to the hatchway 
and called on his men to come on deck and '^ take 
a last shot at the fleeing " Frenchmen. The ruse had 
the desired (effect. The sailors hastened to the deidv 
and wei-e immediately sent to quarters, and a de- 
structive lir(^ was o])en(Ml on the enemy, whicdi swept 
away the men who had gathered on her bowsprit 



220 - CLOSING YEARS OP THE WAR. 1S00. 

and forecastle in readiness to spring' aboard. Be- 
lieyini;' that tlie apparent confusion in the American 
was a stratajnem to indncc^ them to come to (dose 
qnarters a<»ain, tlie Fihmk limen hastened to rejoin 
their discomfited consorts. Tlic Linilm then con- 
tinn(Ml her conrse to (Jihraltar, where she was 
<>reeted by the throngs wlio liad witnessed the affair 
from the Roidv. 

Another action wlii( li took ])lace in the Fren(di 
war was that between tlie American privateer 
JhraJd, Captain Nathaniid Silsbee — afterward 
TTnite<l States Senator from Massa<dnisetts — and the 
Frencdi privateer La (Hoi re, T]w Herald, thon<;ii 
bearini;' a letter <»f mar(ine, had been enoaejed in a 
trading;- voyai^e to India. On November 1, 1800, 
('ai)tain Silsbee left Calcutta, havin<i- in com- 
pany the American mendiantnien PtTscrcrdiicc, Cap- 
tain Williamson; (IcojKiIrd, Captain Naylor; (irace, 
Captain Davis — all of Philadcdphia; and the f^phin.r, 
Captain Brantz, of Baltimore. As it was know that 
several I'^rencdi privateers were cruisinji; in those 
S(^as it was a_ii,rced between the commanders of these 
vess«ds to sail in com])any for mutual safety, the 
meridiantmen beini;- laden with car<;'oes invoiced at 
over a million dollars. 

"■ On the morninii" of XovendxM' 3d, at daylight," 
records Captain Silsbee, " tw<> strani>e sails were dis- 
covered a few leainnes to windward of us, one of 
wlii(di was soon recoonizcMl to be the East India 
Comi)any's packet shij) (UinnntJlls^ of eiohteen i!,uns, 
whicdi left the river at the same time with ns. At 
abont 8 a. m. the other shi]> stood toward the Corn- 
irallis, soon after which the latter bore down upon 
ns under full sail, commencing' at the same time a 
running;' fight with the other shi]), whi(di then dis- 
played Fren( h colors. We soon perceived that they 
were both plying their sweeps very briskly, that the 
Fr<Mi(diman's grape was making great havoc on the 
Cory/ //•<///(■ .V, and that the crew of the latter ship had 




•-; 



^ 



1800. 



STLSBEE THWARTS LA GLOIRE. 



221 




cut away hev boats and wore throwing overboard 
their balhist and otlu'r articdes for the ])nri>(>so of 
lightening their ship. The sea was perfectly smooth 
and the wind vei'y light, so nundi so that it was (piite 
midday before either of the ships were within gun- 
shot of us, by whiidi time we (the five American 
ships) were in (dose line, 
our de(dcs cleared of a large 
sto(dv of poultry — whicdi, 
with their coops, could be 
seen for a considerable dis- 
tance round us — and every 
preparation made to defend 
ourselves to the extent of 
our ability. But this dis- 
1)1 ay of resistance on our 
part seemed to be quite dis- 
regarded by the pursuing 
ship, and she continued 
steering for my own ship, 
whicdi was in 
our tl(Md, until 
and fairly within gunshot, 

when my own guns were first opened upon her, whi(di 
were instantly fcdlowed by those of eaidi and all of 
the other four shii)S. 

'' When the mat(dies were applie<l to our guns 
the Frencdi ship was i>lying her sweeps, and, witii 
stud<ling sails on bolh sides, coming directly ui)on 
us. But wluMi the smoke of our guns, caused l)y re- 
peated broa<lsides from eacdi of our shi])s, had so 
])assed off as to enable us to see her distinctly, she 
was close upon the wind and going from us. The 
captain of the ('oniioillis (\vhi(di was tluMi within 
hailing distance) exi>ressed a desire to excdiange sig- 
nals with us and to kiM^]) company while the l^rcMudi 
ship — whi(di was known by him to be La (lloirc, a 
privateer of twenty-two 9-])ounders and four hun- 
dred men — was in sight, which request was com- 



11 V UW 11 Mll|i, 



222 CLOSING YEARS OF THE WAR. 1800. 

plied with; and he liaviii^ii lost all bis boats, I weut 
on board his ship, whore our signals were made 
known t(> him, and where the (•a])tain and ofiftcers of 
the (Utniirdllis afdviiowledged the protection whi(di 
we had afforch'd them in the most grateful terms. 
The ConncdUis continued with us two days, in the 
course of whi<di the privateer api)roa(died us several 
times in the night, but, tinding that we were awake, 
hauled off, and after the second night we saw no 
more of her." 



PART SECOND. 

THE WAR OF 1812. 



CHAPTER I. 

FIKST A'EXTUKES. 

When tho TJnitod ^tat(^s <loclarp(l war against 
Great Britain, Jnne 18, 1812, our navy consistcMl of 
only seventeen vessels, carrying four hnndred and 
fort3'-tw() gnns and five thousand men. Of these 
only eight, in the first few months of the war, were 
able to get to sea. At the time hostilities broke 
out no American private<*r was in existence; but 
the rapidity with whi(di a great fleet of this <dass of 
war craft was created and sent to sea forms one 
of the most inijxn'tant and significant episodes in 
American history. At the first sound of war our 
niei'(duints hastened to rept^at their marvelous 
a(dnevements on the ocean in the struggle for in- 
de])end<Mic<\ Every availal)le |»ilot boat, mercdiant 
craft, <'oasting vessel, and fishing smack was qui(dvly 
overhaul(Ml, mounted with a fcAV guns, and sent out 
with a commission to '" burn, sink, and destroy." A 
news]>a])er under date of July 1, 1812, notes: ^' The 
])eo])h» in the Eastern States are laboring almost 
night and <lay to fit out ])rivateers. Two have 
already sailed from Salem and ten others are get- 
ting ready for sea. This looks Avell, and does credit 
to our Eastern friends." By the mid<lle of October 
New York had sent out twenty-six privateers, mount- 
ing some three hundred guns and manned by more 
than two thousan<l men. A Baltimore paper, dated 
July 4, 1812, says: ''Several small, swift privateers 
will sail from the United States in a few days. Some 



220 FIlfST VENTURES. 1812. 

already have been sent to sea, and many others of a 
larger class, better fitted and better equipped, will 
soon follow." 

Xiles, in his Kegister of Jnly 15, 1S12, says: " In 
sixty days, conntinp,' the day on which war was de- 
(lared, there will be afloat from the United States 
not less than one hnndred and fifty privateers, carry- 
inii', oil J*'i average, sineuty-five men and six guns. 
If they succeed pretty Avell their number will be 
doubled in a slnu't time. Sixty-five weri^ at sea on 
the 15th inst. .Many otln^'s ai'e probably out that 
we have not heard of." And this, too, in spite of 
the fact that there were off the coasts of the United 
States at tliat time more than one hundred British 
vessels of war. When we remember that our na- 
tional war shi})s, at the Ix'ginning of the struggle, 
numbered only seventeen vessels, cai'rying four hun- 
dred and forty-two guns, it Avill be readily seen that 
(Hie hundred and fifty ]>i*ivat(H'rs, carrying about one 
thousand guns and more than ten thousand men, 
was no inconsiderable augmentation of our sea 
])ower. 

It is interesting to note, howev(^r, that although 
the first r^nglish merchant vess(d taken on the high 
s(Ms by the Americans in the war — a ship from 
Jamaica bonnd for London — was caj)tured by a 
Tnited States revenue cutter, July 1st, off Cape Ilat- 
teras ami sent into Norfolk, the first British (Jovern- 
ment vessid was taken by an American jnivateer. 
The English schooner Wliiliinj, Lieutenant Maxcey, 
having on board dis]tat(dies from the British Gov- 
ernment for ^^'ashington, was taken in Hampton 
Boads, July 10, 1S12, by the ])rivateer Dash, Captain 
Carroway, of l>altimore. The privateer was armed 
with one gun and carried a complement of forty 
men. The Wh'ilunj carried four guns. The former 
had come down from the Chesapeake prepared for 
a cruis(^ against the enemy, when she found the 
WhltliKj lying at am hor in the Boads. At that mo- 



1812. CAl'TLUiE OP THE WHITING AND BLOODHOUND. 2:i~ 

iiient Lieutenant Maxeey, beini^- ignorant of the 
existence of hostilities, was in a boat pnllino- toward 
shore, intending; to land at Hampton. Captain 
Carroway seized the boat and then made for the 
schooner. Running alon<»side he called on the offi- 
cer in charge to surrender, which, after several 
l»apers had been thrown overboard, Avas done with- 
out opposition. These ])apcrs '* wcn^ said to relate 
to Henry's affair." ^ 

As the seizure of the ]Miifiii<i was clearly unfair, 
the (Joverument ordered her to be returned. "On 
Wednesday last [August 12, 1812] His Britannic 
Majesty's s(hoon(M' Wliitii);/, IJiMitenant Maxcey — 
detained by the l)<i.sJi ])rivateer — was conducted to 
Hamilton Koads by the revenue cutter (idlhifiii, Ca])- 
tain E(l\var<l Herbert. The crew of the MliUhnj was 
given in charge to Cajitain Herbert, with orders to 
d(diver them U]) to their commander at the very 
]>lace A\here they had been taken, which ^^'as done, 
and Lieutenant Maxcey was then ordered to (]uit 
the watei's of the Lnited States with all jxissibh^ 
s]»eed." - 

About the time th<^ Wliifiiu/ was captured, Ca])- 
lain J. (lohl, of the S-gun ])rivateer schooner Tor^/, of 
lialtimoi'e, ca])tured another English dispatch boat, 
the liloodhoiiiul, and carricMl her into Anna]»olis. The 
ItloodlifHiHi] also was reh^ased by our (lovennnent ; 
" but she will tind some difficulty, " remarks a con- 
tem])orary uewspa])er, "in working her ])assage 
home, the greater ])ai*t of her crcnv having Ixmmi car- 
ried on shore as ]n'isoners, refusing their liberty, 
have (daimed the ])rotectiou of the soil, and ])]*e- 
fcMTed to I'eside among us. It is stated that the crew 
of the WhilliKj also have absoliit(dy refused to go 
on board that vessel again, and that we have no 
law, if we had the will, to compel them." Among 

' Norfolk Lodiivr, .Tuly 10, 181'^. 
"" Norfolk TTcnild, Aii-ust 14, ISIQ. 



228 FIRST VENTURES. 1812-1813. 

the crew of the Bloodlioiiiid, several gentlemen at 
Annapolis recognized an American who had been 
impressed three years before. He was restored to 
his country. We learn that several of the British 
sailors, panting for revenge, have already enlisted 
in the United States service, or entered on board 
onr privateers." Aside from her capture of the 
HJoodhotiiid, the career of the (Una was uneventful. 
SJH^ was cai>tured in Chesapeake Bay by the Brit- 
ish squadron in February, 1813, four of her men 
esca])ing in a boat to the shore. The DuhIih useful- 
ness also seems t<> have been limited to the capture 
of the Whitiiifi, no other seizures being credited to 
her. 

Many of the first privateers to get to sea were 
small i)ilot boats, mounting one long tom amidships, 
with several smaller guns, and carrying a crew of 
fifty to sixty men, whose chief dependence in battle 
was on muskets, sabers, and boarding pikes. These 
vessels, as a rule, Avere intended merely for short 
cruises in the (fulf of St. Lawrence, off Nova Scotia, 
Newfoundland, and among the West India Islands. 
At that time they were sufficiently formidable to 
capture the average British merchantman, but as 
the war progressed the giH^at increase in armaments 
and com]>l('ments of English trading vessels made 
our smallei- ]»rivate(M's almost impotent. As soon 
as it was known that war had been <leclared a swift 
])ilot boat hastened across the Atlantic to (xotteii- 
borg, and gav(^ warning to all American merchant- 
men tlien in the ])orts of Sweden, Denmark, Prussia, 
and Bussia. In this way a large numbiM- of our mer- 
chant craft Wi^-e saved from captur<\ those that did 
venture out being fast-sailing V(^ssels that could 
easily outsail tlu^ average British cruiser, or letter 
of uiar(|ue. 

Among the first pilot-boat privateers to get to 
sea were the Bhu-h Jo/.t, Captain B. Brenow, and 
JdcVs Fdi'orilc, Captain J(dinson, both of New York. 



1813. THE BLACK JOKE AND JACK'S FAVORITE. 229 

The first, a sloop of five guns and sixty men, brought 
in two small prizes, rhtck's Favoviic was more suc- 
cessful, that vessel returning to New York early in 
July, 1812, having taken the schooner Rebecca, laden 
with sugar and molasses from Trinidad for Hali- 
fax, which was sent into New London; the brig 
Bef.scj/, taken two hundred and fifty miles west of 
IJock of Lisbon, with a full cargo of wine and raisins 
from ^Malaga for St. Petersburg valued at seventy- 
five tliousand dollars, wliich arrived at Pl^anouth, 
Massachusetts, safely; and three sloops that were 
destroyed at sea. The rJacVs Faroritf, like th<' lihuh 
Joke, carried five guns and a crew of eiglity men. 

At the time the ./(/rA-'.s- Furorite and tlie JihicJc Joke 
were operating against Uritisli commerce, the ])riva- 
teers Ropif], of Portland, the Dolpliiii, the 'Jefferson, 
the Lkni, the ^uoirhtrd, and the Fair Tnuler, all of 
Salem, were cruising on the high seas. The first 
had, at different times, two commanders, the first 
being ('ai)tain W. ('rabtr(M\ and the second Captain 
J. Weeks. The Rapid took one ship and two brigs. 
Tlie ship was tlie F.rperienee, her cargo being valued 
at two hundred and fifty tliousand dollars. One of 
tlie brigs was rans<niied, and tlu* other, the St. Aii- 
(Ireirs, of eight guns, for Pristol, England, in bal- 
last, was sent into Portland. The Rapid also had 
an action with a British privateer, the schooner 
SeareJier, mounting one gun and having a comple- 
ment of twenty men. The Rapid was a l)rig carrying 
fourteen guns and eighty-four men. The t<earcher 
was taken without difticulty and burned. Soon 
afterwaril the Rapid's career' was cut short by the 
liritish frigates Maidi^iom and Spartan, which on Oc- 
t(d)er 17, 1812, captured her after a chase of eleven 
hours, during which the Americans had thrown over- 
board all their guns, boats, and every movable arti- 
cle in a vain endeavor to escape. The Rapid, how- 
ever, had ])aid for herself many times over. 

The privateers Dolpliiii and Jefferson, the latter 



230 FIRST VENTURES. 1812. 

coniiiiaiHled by Captain J. Downer, and carrying two 
guns and forty men, also sent into Salem a brig, fonr 
schooners, and a shallop laden with dry goods. In 
all the Jc/ffr.soii took one brig, fonr schooners, and 
one sloop. The flcffcrson was a schooner carrying 
two iiiins and forty men, while the Dolnli'ni is cred- 
it(Ml with one giin and twenty men. 

In Jnly, 1812, three Nova Scotia shallops arrived 
in ^farblehead as prizes of the privateer Lion, Cap- 
tain J. Hitch, of Salem. The Lion was a sloop carry- 
ing two gnns and twenty men. With the assistance 
of the armed schooner f>mHrJ)'ird, Captain S. Stacy, 
the Lio)! also captured tiv(^ English brigs from Liver- 
])(>(»] bound for St. John's. One brig taken by the 
Lion and i^iioirltird carried six gnns, but made no 
resistance. The Lion is crcMlited in this war with 
having taken in all one brig, two schooners, and 
three sloojts. 

Althongh carrying only one gnn and a crew of 
twcnty-tivc men, the ai*med schooner /V//r Trudcr, 
Ca])tain J. Morgan, ]>erfoi'nied more valuable serv- 
ices than any of the foregoing privateers. Getting 
to sea at the outbreak of hostilities Captain Mor- 
gan, in one crnise, t<H)k three schooners: one having 
a cargo of beef, flonr, fish, etc.; amdher being laden 
with gin and tobacco for St. Andrews; and the third 
with Inmber on de<dc. Aft(^r seizing these vessels 
tln^ Fair TnuJcr fell in with the Hritish ship Jarrrfl, 
Ca})1ain Kicliard .Tacol)s, from Hristol, England, for 
St. Andrews, in ballast. She was a fine craft of fonr 
hnndred tons biirdtm, carrying two G-ponnders and 
<'ighteen men. At this time the privateer't? comple- 
ment had been riMlnced — throngh manning her pre- 
vious ]»rizes — to fifteen men. Notwithstanding his 
short-handed condition Captain Morgan boldly ran 
under the JarniVs st<^rn and demanded her snr- 
rendei, at the same time discharging his single gun. 
It seems that of the JdrrdVfi eiglit<M^n men four were 
Americans, and on their making out the privateer 



IK]','. REPULSE OF THE INDIANS BOATS. 231 

to be tin American tbey left their stations and re- 
fnsed to fight. Captain Jacobs decided to surrender, 
the four Americans enlisting in the Fair TnaJvr. 
This privateer took in all one ship, one brig, and five 
schooners; but on July 1(5, 1812, while in the Bay of 
I'undy, a few days after sending the Janrtt safely 
into Salem, she was chased by the 18-gun brig of 
war JikI'kiii, Captain Jane, and was captured. Later 
in the war another privateer, pierced for eighteen 
guns, was built under the same name, but that also 
fell into the hands of the enemy and was destroyed 
in Buzzards Bay. 

But the loss of the first Fair Trader had been 
avenged in advance, two days before her cai)tnre by 
the Indian, when that cruiser attempted to capture 
the privateer schooner l*o1li/. That much advantage 
was gained b^' privateers sailing in couples is shown 
in the cruise of this vessel and the 2-gun schooner 
Madi.soH, of fifty men, Captain 1). Elwell. The /^>//// 
carried five guns and fifty-seven men, under the com- 
mand of Captain T. Handy, both of Salem. They got 
to sea early in the war. Their first success was the 
seizure of a valuable transport by a clever strata- 
gem. These two ])i'ivateers were cruising in com- 
pany on July 14, 1S12, when th(\v gave chase to two 
vessels which they to(dc to be merchantmen. Tt was 
not until they were neai-ly within gunshot that one of 
the strangers was discovere<l to be an IS-gun brig 
of Avar carrying in all twenty-two guns. She was, in 
fact, the /iididii, which only two days after destroyed 
the I'air Trader. Ca])tain Jane pi-(>ni]>tly stood for 
the ])iMvat(M'i-s under a ])ress of sail. 

The Anu^rican vessels se]»arated, tlie cniiser 
selecting the /'o//// and giving her a hai'd chase. 
While the brig of wai- was almost within gunshot it 
fell calm and the lOnglishnieii got out tli(M'r launch 
and longboat, with foi-ty men, and ])ulled toward tli(^ 
I'olli/. When within ninsket shot the British ci'ew 
gave three cheers, and opening a brisk fire of small 



232 FIRST VENTURES. 1812-1814. 

arms, and from their 4-ponnfler, dashed toward the 
privateer. This was the sif>nal for the Americans to 
open, and for a few minutes the water in the vicinity 
of the hmncli was wliii>])(Ml into froth by musket balls 
and lauLiraiic In a short time the launch surren- 
dered, whih^ the other boat made a hasty retreat. 
Captain Handy was unabh' to take possession of the 
launch, h<»wpver, for the cruiser was dangerously 
near, so he seized this o]i])ortunity to man his sweeps 
and thus made his escajx'. l>ut tlie Americans had 
tIh^ satisfaction of notiiii; that \\\wu the launch ad- 
vanced to the attack she showed sixteen sweeps, 
while on lier retreat only tivo were seen. About this 
time the /*o//// captui'eil the S(diooner IJIizd, of Hali- 
fax, for Jamaica, an<l sent her into Salem. Before 
returniuii' io port (''ai)tain llaudy took the sloop 
IhiiUaror, ('a])tain Newman, from Bm-mnda f(»r New- 
foundland, laden with suiiar, and sent her into 
Salem. Anotlnn- prize credited to this privateer was 
Ihe bri<;- I'rvx'uhul, laden with molasses, which was 
sent into Savannah, October, 1S13. On A])ril 10, 
1814, the /'o//// was captured by the l()-<;un brig of 
war n<irli(i(](K's off San Domingo after a chase of sixty 
hours. 

By Ihe time the /*o//// had beaten off the Indian's 
boats llie Mddison was not in sight. Captain Elwell 
having made all speed for the brig that had been 
in the cruiser's company. He had little trouble in 
taking her. She was found t(t be the British Gov- 
ernnu'iit trans]>ort No. 50, a tine brig of two hundred 
and niiH'ty tons, mounting two guns and maniuMl b}^ 
twelve men. She was from Halifax for St. John's, 
an<l had ou board one hundred casks of gunpowder, 
eight hundred and eighty suits of uniform for the 
One Huiulred and Fourth Light Infantry, some bales 
of (doth for officers' uniforms, ten casks of wine, be- 
sides drums, trumpets, and other camp equipage, 
the entire cargo being computed to be worth some 
fiftv thousand dollars. 



1812. THE MADISON'S SUCCESSFUL CRUISES. 233 

Before reaeliing port the Madison euptured, after 
a sharp engagemeut, the brig EJi.za, carr^'ing six 
guns to the })riyateer's two. The Americans had 
two men wounded, whih^ the master of the prize was 
badly injured. Putting into Eastport, Elaine, with 
a in'ize, a schooner, and anidlier privateer, the Madi- 
son, on August 3, 1812, fell in with the 38-gun 
frigate ^Sp(ll■tan, Captain Brenton, and the 32-gun 
frigate Maidstone. Anticipating trouble, Captain El- 
well had moved to a point about six miles below 
East])ort, and running close inshore landed his 
men and guns and erected a battery. Scarcely had 
this been done when six boats, full of men from 
the cruisers, were discovered approaching. When 
within range the privateersmen opened a heavy fire, 
which Avas returned. Aftei' sustaining a loss of 
twenty or thirty killed or wounded the enemy re- 
treated. On the following day they renewed the 
attack with overpowering forces, and this time suc- 
ceeded in taking the privateer and her prize, the 
privateersmen escaping into the woods. Not one of 
the Americans was injured in the first attack, but 
several casualties were reported in the second day's 
fight. The Madison had taken in all four ships, three 
brigs, and a S(diooner. 

Four days after the action between the PoJli/ and 
the Indian's boats the American privateer Falcmi, 
Ca]»tain (Jeorge Wilson, liad a running fight Avitli 
the British cutter ffcro. The Falcon was making the 
voyage from Boston to Bordeaux, and on July 18, 
1812, while off the coast of France, she fell in with 
the Ihro, carrying five guns and fifty num. The 
American mounted four guns and had a complement 
of only sixteen men. After a fight lasting two hours 
and a half Captain Wilson com])elled the cutter to 
haul off, the enemy having made three unsuccess- 
ful attempts to board. On the following day Ca]v 
lain Wilson, while engaged in repairing his consid- 
erable injuries, was attacked by a British privateer 

18 



2e34 FIRST VENTURES. 1812. 

(•aiTyin<>; six <;nus aii<l forty men. The Amerieaus 
made anotluM' i^allaiit fiiilit, and for an honr and a 
half kept tlu^ priA^ateer off, but after Captain Wilson 
and several of bis men bad been wounded tbe Falcon 
was carried by boarding-, thoujuh with her colors 
flying-. She was taken into Chiernsey, where the 
wounded were sent ashore. 

About the same time the privateer G',v/>sr//, of 
New York, also making for Bordeaux, was seized 
by a British <ruis(M'. The Englishmen placed a prize 
cr(MV aboai'd th(^ (ijipscji^ and ordered her to a British 
port. Scar((dy had the cruiser separated from her 
])rize, howev(M% when th(^ Americans hit upon a plan 
for recapturing the s(diooner. Seizing a favorable 
opportunity they ros(^ on their cajdors and carried 
the vessel into a Fren( h port. 

The WUc /\<ii<ii-<I — at first commissioned as the 
"ir/Zr// IxciiiKiid, of one gun " — was a Boston scdiooner 
hastily pre]>ar(Ml for i)rivate ent(M-i)rise on the high 
seas. Slie nuuh^ a shorl but successful cruise ear'ly 
in the vvai', taking in all three shi])s, two brigs, and 
four schooners, all of which reaidied port in safety. 
Among her prizes was the schooner Nf/////, from Syd- 
ney, Nova Scotia, whi(di got safely into Boston, Au- 
gust 5, 1S12. In her second venture the Wile Jxciiard 
was captured, October 4, 1812, by the 38-gun frigate 
ShdiiiiDii, (''a])lain IMiili]) Bowes Vere Broke. 

Less successful than the Wile RciKird was the 6- 
gun sloo]» (IJcdiicr — sometinu^s called the 'Mlleaner 
packet"' — ("'ai)tain N. Lord. She was from Kenne- 
bunk, Maine, with a com]»lement of fort^' men, and 
was capture<l on her maiden cruise, July 23, 1812, 
when off (''a])e Sable, by the 18-gun brig of war 
(U>]ihi-i, (''a])tain Thompson. ThrcH^ days later the 
(U)lih)-i took the privateer (Uiflx riiic, of fourteen guns 
and eighty-<ught men, Captain F. Burham, of Boston. 
The (UifJicriiic was cruising off Cape Sable and had 
ca])tured one bark, when she fell into the (dutches 
of the cruiser. Captain Burham resisted for an hour 



1812. BRITISH WAR BRIG WRECKED. ^lio 

and a lialf, and did not snnvndor nntil his boatswain 
had been kilhMl and his tirst officer and several men 
iiad been woiuKhMh The l^ritish had six men killed 
and a iinmber wonnded. 

About this time the r)-i;nn schooner NaHCj/, Cap- 
tain K. Smart, of Portsmonth, New Hampshire, car- 
rviiiLi,' forty men, made a prize of the British ship 
I'csolHfioii, laden with lionr. She was sent into Ports- 

lllOUtll. 

The fortunes of war were well illnstrated in the 
cases of the American jtrivateers (ins.<«fiiicr and (Jiir- 
Icir and tlie British brii;- of war Eiiniloiis, Captain 
Miilcaster. Th<' (los.sdiiicr was a 14-i;nn privateer of 
Salem, commanded by Captain C. (Joodricdi, and was 
one of the largest ])rivat<Mn-s sent ont of Boston in 
1812, she liaviiin a comi)lem<'nt of one hnndred men. 
Iler hrst and only i)rize was the ship Aim (hrcn, from 
Jamaica for (^nebec, whii h was taken into Boston. 
The ]»rize was armed with eii^ht 12-ponnders and two 
loni;' ()-})onnders, a very formidable armament for a 
merchantman at that time. Part of her carj2;o con- 
sisted of one hnndred hogsheads of rnm, and the 
entire "catch" netted her captors- forty thonsand 
dollars. 

A few days later, Jnly '^Oth, the Gossdiiicr's career 
was cut short by the British 18-gnn brij;' of war 
I'linihms, which made easy captnre of the privateer 
off Ca]»e Sable. The l-Jiiniloiis had not lonjn' been in 
])ossession of her ])rize, however, when the crniser 
was lost on IJaiijLicd Island, near the scene of the 
(lossdiiicr's captnre. Thonjih the officers and crew 
of the crniscn' were now witlnuit a ship, fortnne soon 
])laced at their dis])osal amtther craft, to whi(di they 
< i-aiisferi'ed their (piarlers. It seems that six days 
before the thiniJous took the (i<>ss<nncr the British 
friuate Ara.'^td, Ca])tain Kerr, while in a dense f(>g", 
had di'ifted alongside of the tine American priva- 
l<'er brig (^iirlnr, of Boston. It was not nntil the 
fog had lifted that Captain William. Wyer, of the 



236 P'lllST VENTURES. 1812-181:5. 

privateci', (liscovercd \ho niidesirablc ])i'()ximity of 
the frigate, and being i)()litelY requested to sur- 
render did so witli all the grace possible under tlu' 
circunistances. The Ciirlcir carried sixteen guns an<l 
a conii)lenHMit of one hundred and seventy-two men, 
and being in every way as good a vessel, and almost 
of the same size as the l-Jiiiiiloiis, the officers and 
crew (d' tli(^ unlucky war bi-ig were transf('rr(Ml to 
her, and they continued to cruise after tlu^ mis- 
chievous Yankees. On May 2d of the following year 
the Ciirh'ir, then under the command of Captain 
]\ri<dia(d Head, liad a narrow escape from ('ai»tain 
John Ivodgei-s, then cruising in the 44-gun fi'igate 
Pi-('.sitl(iil. As it was the Ciii-hir showed a ''(dean 
pair of heels," and ke]>t u\) the reputation of Ameri- 
can shi]dniild(U-s by outsailing the frigate. 

Two days after the inhabitants of (Jloucestei*, 
Massa<dmset ts, had c(d(d)rated the "(Jlorious 
I'ourth " <d" 1S12 there ap]»(»ai'ed in the harbor of 
that town a brig whi( h had slowly workiMl her way 
into the Koads with two flags tlying at half-mast, 
one American and the othei- English. This singu- 
lar apparition attracted the attenti(»n of the towns- 
folk, who gathered at the wharf awaiting an ex- 
planation. Soon a b(»at came ashore announcing 
that the brig Avas the Anieriran mendiantman Picl- 
ci-iiijl, ('a]>tain Davis, fi-om (Jibraltar, which had been 
taken only a fcAV days before by the British 'JtVgun 
frigate liclridcni, Captain Tlichard l>yron. That 
frigate had just made her (^scape from Captain Kodg- 
ers" S(Hiadron, and falling in with the J^icJicriiKj 
took her. Ca]»tain I>yron, after placing a ])rize mas- 
t<M' and eight men aboard the rU-lxCflinj, with orders 
to mak<' for Halifax, continued his cruise. 

When the mer( hantman had come Avithin six 
miles of her ])ort, the Americans, with the assistance 
of four ])assengers, ov(M-powered the priz(^ creAV and 
carried the Plcl-crnnj int(> (Uoucester. The British 
l>risoners " spoke vei-y unfavorably of Capiain Bodg- 



1812. A CLEVER RECAPTURE. 2)) 7 

ers. The Bclrldcra was much shattered in her 
stern and k)st one topmast. Slie had one man kiUiMl 
and one wonnded, wlio died." ^ The singular cii'- 
cnmstance of the ricl^cruKj coming into port witli 
American and En^lisli tla^s at lialf-mast isoxi»laincd 
in an(>tlier acconnt, which says: " AVIkmi tlic prison- 
ers were landed the thiiis of the two vessels, belong- 
ing- to a wretch born in the United States, bnt never- 
theless not an American, were hoisted half-mast 
hii;h to show his regret that certain citizens had 
recovered their i)roperty from the snbjects of his 
king." It is claimed that the Plckcrliuj had sixty 
thonsand dollars on b(»ard, whi<di the ottlcers of the 
JUiridcrd did not discover. 

Another instance <»f an American ship being re- 
captnred by her own pe()])le was that of the l)rig 
XcriiKi, Captain Stewart, whi(di arrived in New Lon- 
don, Angust 4, 1S12. This reca])tnre was the result 
of a stratagem i)racticed by the long-headed Yankee 
commander. The X< liiui had sailed from Newry, Ire- 
land, bi^fore it was known that war exist<Ml between 
the Tnited States and (Jreat Britain. When olf the 
American coast the No-'iihi was seized by a British 
ci-niser, and all her men, with the exception of Ca])- 
tain Stewart, were taken aboanl tlu^ man-(d'-war. A 
prize crew was then ])laced in tlu^ mere hantman and 
(»rdere<l to make for Halifax. I>eli(n'ing that ( 'aptain 
Stewart was the only ])risoner aboai'd, the English 
pi'ize master relaxed his vigilance. It seems, how- 
ever, that ther(^ were some fifty American passengers 
in the brig, and when it was seen that they mnst be 
captnred ('a]»tain Stewart induced tlu^ ])assengers 
to conceal themscdves in the h(dd, i)romising their 
r(dease as soon as the cruisin- was out of sight. 
Scarc(dy had the man-<d'-war disap]»eared b(dow the 
horizon when the Yankee skipper innocently sng- 
gested to the British i)rize master the proi)riety of 



1 Private letter, dated Salem, July G, 1812. 



238 FIRST VENTURES. 1812-18115. 

<>I>(Miiii<;' the liatclies, " as the bold iicodod airing.'' 
The suggestion was promptly ado])t(Ml, and nincdi to 
the surprise of tiie captors tifty men si)rang ou 
deek, overpowered the unsuspecting prize crew, and 
brought the ship into New London. 

The armed S( hoouer Paul Jones, of sixteen guns 
and one hundred and twenty men, Cai)tain J. Hazard 
(afterward commanded by Captain A. Tayloi'), of 
New York, cai)tured the English brig lli/xsc.s, from 
the West Indies bound for Halifax, and sent her 
into Norfolk. Later in the war (May 23, 1813) the 
r<iiil Jones took the Lvonldns after a hard chase, in 
which hve of the eighty-five Americans were wound- 
ed. In all, this v<'SS(d cai)tured six ships, seven 
brigs, and two sloops. The I'(tul 'Jones sailed on her 
second cruise early in January, 1S13. On January 
Ttli she captured the ship Seaton, of twelve (>-i)ound- 
ers, laden with tiour, from San Salvador for Lisbon. 
On the 25th she recai)tured the American brig lAtile 
James, besides the fcdlowing valuable ])i'izes: Ht. 
Martin's I'lanier, of twelve guns, from Malta for 
London; the transi)ort Canada, of ten guns, and hav- 
ing on boar<l one humli-ed soldiers and forty-two 
hoi'ses;^ the (^)nef)ee, fi-om Loudon for (Jibraltar, of 
twelve guns, and la<leii with seven hundred and fifty 
l)a(dcages of drygoods. The Canada was ransomed 
for three thousand ]>ounds, after the troops had been 
disarmed. On I"\4)ruary 27th the I*an1 Jones cap- 
tured the sloop I'earl, of London, for St. ^FicdiaeLs, 
ladtm with fruit; the brig Reiurn, of London; the 
brig John and IsaheJla, of Berwick-on-'I'weed ; and th<' 
brig Ijondon Paelcf, of six guns. The Jolin and Isa- 
helhi was given ui> as a cartel for th(^ prisoners. 

On the evening of July 9, 1S12, tlu^ aruuMl 
schooner Fame, Captain William Webb, of Salem, 
entered that port after having captured an English 
shi]) of about three hundred tons burden, laden with 



' Loir book of the P<ti(I Jonps. 



1812. CAREER OF THE FAME. 239 

lumber, Jind a brig of two hundred tons, laden with 
tar. The ship was armed with two 4-pounders, but 
was unable to make use of them, as the Americans 
boarded her unexpeetedly. The Fame was a small 
vessel of only thirty tons, carrying one gun and a 
crew of twenty men. She was an old craft, having 
been used as a privateer in the Kevolution. Perhaps 
this vessel won her greatest distinction in her next 
voyage, in Avhich she took several vessels having a 
singular series of names. Under the command of 
Captain (Ireen she returned to Boston, October 11, 
1812, from a highly successful cruise of only fifteen 
days, in which time she had captured five vessels, 
all schooners, one of them bearing the name Four 
^o)is, from the Bay of Chaleur, laden with fish and 
furs; another, calhMl the Four lirofhcrs, from the 
West Indies for Newfoundland; and a third, named 
the TJiree l^isfvrs. Tlie (dher two prizes were the 
Betsc/i Ami, hid(Mi with sugar, from the West Indies, 
taken in sight of Halifax harbor, and the Ddif/hf, 
from Bermuda for Halifax, laden with wine and 
silks, which was sent into Ma(dnas. All th(^S(^ ])rizes 
reac lied ])ort. 

The ])rivateer sIoo]> >s'r/r//rr, carrying five guns 
and fifty-two men, under tiie command of Captain 
W. Fernald, sailed from Portsmouth, New Ilani])- 
shire, August 12, 1S12, in company with the armed 
schooner lltoiiids, Cn]>tain T. Shaw, of twelve^ guns 
and eighty men. The Science was captured when 
thirte(Mi days out by the omnipresent FiuuUms. The 
TlioiiKis to(dv three slii]>s, one brig, and one schooner, 
with a total valuation of six hundred thousand dol- 
lars. One of these ships, the Droiuo, mounted twelve 
guns, ;nid two of them carried fourteen each, but 
had for com])lements only twenty-five and thirty 
men i'es]»ectively. The Dromo was from Liverpool for 
Halifax, and had a cargo invoiced at seventy thou- 
sand i)()unds sterling. She was sent into Wlscasset. 
Sailing again, September 2P>, 1S18, the Thomas, when 



24:0 FIRST VENTURES. 1812. 

six dajs out, was captured off Cape North by the 32- 
giin frigate Nijmph, after a chase of thirty-four 
hours, ill which eight of the privateer's guns were 
thrown overboard. 

The ship (or schooner, by some accounts) Or- 
htiido, of two hundred and eighteen tons, eiglit guns, 
and seventy-five men, Captain J. Babson, returned 
to Gloucester, August 28, 1S12, after a successful 
cruise, in which she ha<l taken two brigs, one 
schooner, and one sloop. 

On July 23, 1812, the schoomn- Dolpliiii, Captain 
Endicott, of Salem, returned to port after a venture 
of twenty days on the sea. She had been chased 
several times by British cruisers, but always es- 
caped. Captain Endicott took six prizes, and 
treated his prisoners with such kindness that when, 
on one occasion, lu^ was for twenty-four hours 
hard pressed by an English frigate, the prisoners 
gave a willing hand in manning the boats and 
assisted in towing the privateer out of gunshot. 
They declared that they would much rather go to 
AuKM-ica than enter a British man-of-war. Some 
of the DolpJiiirs prizes were the ship ^yahis('h, laden 
Avith timb(n% the brig Aitfclopc, and the ship Em press, 
which v^'ere sent into port; a schooner (name not 
given), which was released for om^ hundred thou- 
sand dollars in specie and a (|uantity of beaver skins; 
a brig of twelve guns, with an assorted cargo from 
St. Mi( hael, which was sent into New London; the 
schooner .1;/// KclJj/, of Halifax, with a miscellaue- 
oiis cargo; the brig *S7. Aiidrcirs^ bound for England; 
the ship M(ir/f, from Bristol, England, for St. John's, 
carrying fourteen guns and having a considerable 
(|uantity of arms and ammunition on board; the 
ship Vcinis, an American vessel, with English prop- 
ei'ty on board valued at sixty thousand dollars; and 
the S(diooner Jane, from the West Indies for Halifax, 
sent into ^Nlarblehead. After this highly successful 
cruise the DoJph'ui got to sea again, but on August 



1812. DOLPHIN'S SUCCESSFUL CRUISE. 241 

12, 1S12, she was captured h\ the enemy. Another 
Dolphin, according to British accounts, was captured 
by the CoJundna, December 4, 1812. 

In the lirst eight weeks of the war the British 
captured one of our (loverument vessels, the ^an- 
filii.s, tliirteen in'ivateers, fifteen ships, fourteen 
brigs, ten scliooners, and one sloop. In the same 
time our (Jovernment cruisers took eight merchant- 
men, while our privateers seized one British Govern- 
ment craft, besides nearly one hundred vessels. The 
Essex Kegister rtn-ords thirty-seven prizes of priva- 
teers which sailed from Salem, Gloucester, and 
Marblehead. 



CHAPTEK II. 

" BUITISII licenses" AND KEVENUE CUTTERS. 

One of the first services re(inired of our sea forces 
in the War of 1812 was the siipi)ression of the illicit 
trade that sprang nj) between the TTnited States and 
the British armies in Spain. At the time war was 
declar<Ml (Jreat Britain was operating- extensively 
against the French on llic Iberian Peninsula, and 
de]>ended larg(dy on America for ])rovisions. High 
l)rices for such supplies tem^dcd many of our mer- 
chants not only to run the risk of capture and con- 
fiscation of their cargoes, but to brave the odium 
of their fellow-countrymen. Many cargoes were 
sent from the i)orts of the United States to Halifax 
and thence to Spain, and tliough some of them got 
safely to their destination, yid tlu^ vigilance of our 
cruisers and privateersmen caus<Ml the seizure of a 
large number. In Septembei-, 1813, seventcM'u thou- 
sand barrtds of fiour arrived from our ports in Hali- 
fax. In Xov('nd)er of the same year a sloo]) ai'rive<l 
in I>oston ostensibly from Kenn(d>unk, but on in- 
vestigati(»n it was shown that she came from Hali- 
fax. The sloop was seiz<Ml by the customhouse offi- 
cers an<l two men were plac(Ml aboard as a guard. 
On the night of XovcMiiber 17th a number of uhmi 
smldenly took possession of the craft, and, securing 
the guard with ro])es, removed the cargo. 

This illicit trade was early brought to the att(Mi- 
tion of the ])ublic by a ca]>ture made by tlu' little 
2-gun American schooner Tiazcr, manned b}' fifty 

242 



1812-1813. ILLEGAL SEIZURE OP " LICENSED VESSELS." 243 

men. This vessel recaptured the fine, newly co])- 
pered American ship Mdrt/arcf, which had Ix'en taken 
by the British war schooner J*Jiiuipcr, ('ai)tain lii-av. 
The Munjarei had sailed from Liveri)ool bcd'ore it was 
known that war between the United States and Eiijj,- 
land had broken ont. She was laden with ji valu- 
able cargo of earthenware and ironnioninery, besides 
havin<»- on b<»ard thirteen thousand bushels of salt, 
the ship and car^o beinjn' worth fifty thousand dol- 
lars. On fallinji- in with the I^lHitiprr, a British prize 
master and twcdve men were placed in (diari;e of 
the }f(ir(/(inf, with orders to make for Halifax. 

Captain Bray seems to have followed a i)ractice 
whiidi was lar<»ely indul^ged in earh' in the war by 
British commanders on the North American station. 
In order to evade the embargo a number of Ameri- 
can vessels hastened to Lisbon with cargoes of i)ro- 
visions for the allied British and Si)anisli armies, 
whiidi were sold at i^reat profit. As these provi- 
sions, at that time, were very difficult to <iet in Eu- 
roi)e, the British encouraiied American mercdiants 
by issuinji" " l>ritish licenses " to all American ves- 
s(ds ens;ai;ed in this tra<le whose masters werc^ 
" wcdl imdined toward British interests," by whi( h 
su(di craft were exempt from seizure by Brilisii 
cruis<'i-s or privateers; notwithstanding' tlu^ fad 
that the two countries were at war. A considerable 
fee was cdiarged for tlu^ ]>rotection. It was deemed 
un]»atriotic for Americans to avail themsidves of 
sue h licenses, but neverthidcss a number of our mer- 
( hants made the venture, while others sent cargoes 
without the protcM-tion of licens<'S. British cruisers 
wei-e especially watchful for the latter class, and in 
some instances did not scru]»le to seiz<^ the cash in 
vessels returning from the P(Miiusula with a liritish 
license. An American ])a])er of ISlo notes that '' fif- 
teen or tw(Mity sciiii-.\ inrricdii vess(ds with British 
licenses have been coiuhunned at Bermuda. A grand 
double speculation of the enemy; in first selling the 



244 "BRITISH LICENSES" AND REVENUE CUTTERS. 1812-181:1 

licenses, aud then making good prizes of tliose tliat 
had them! " 

The commander of the PI inn per was particnlarly 
snccessful in this line of work. He took from eight 
to ten of onr merchantmen. L^roni one of them he 
helped himself to two thonsan<l one hundred dollars 
in specie, from anothor two thousand three hundred 
dollars, and from a third tivo thousand three hun- 
dred (h)llars. In almost every ease vessels despoiled 
in this way were allowed to ])r()eeed after being 
relieved of tludr cash, possibly in the hope that their 
owners might renew the venture. Even larger 
amounts of specie are recorded as having been taken 
from such American traders. The Maria, of New 
York, for instance, was sto])])ed by the Yl.rcii and 
relieved of thirty thousand dollars; the Naiitiltis, 
from ()i)orto, was flcM'ced of twelve thousand dollars 
by the frigate ^^parhiii, wlii(di also took the same 
amount out of the //iraiii, from Lisbon; seven thou- 
sand dollars from the brig Jcir, and twelve thou- 
sand dollars from the brig Marif. The frigate ilfehnn- 
ptis to(dv thirty-two thousand dollars out of one 
shi]), and twenty-two thousand dollars were taken 
in the Cordclid by the /•'iiniloiis. Notwithstanding 
these seizures, some fiv(^ million dollars arrived in 
American ports from Lisbon during the first six 
weeks of the war. ITow mindi the British naval 
couimander respect(Ml these licenses is shown in the 
following extract from a contemporary newspaper: 
" May 2'2, ISi:-). — Tlu^ shi]) Action, of and for Boston 
from Cadiz, though ])rot(M'ted by a 'real genuine 
Prince Begent's license,' was captured off our coast 
by tlie 74-gun shi]) of the line La IIa(/iie. Her cap- 
tain, the ' honorable ' Thomas r>lan<h'n Taped, plun- 
dei-ed the brig (liarhs, also with a licenses an<l would 
have burnt her, but thought it best to give her up 
to get rid of his prisoners, and she has arrived at 
Boston. Tie said he was determined to destroy 
every vessel that had a license, and if his Govern- 



1813. CASE OF THE MARGARET. 245 

ment would not i)iit a stop to the use of them, the 
navy should do it." 

Judge Story, of the United States Circuit Court, 
sitting at Boston, Junc^, 1818, in an elaborate opin- 
ion, decreed the condemnation of an American ves- 
sel sailing under a British license on the general 
])rinciple of being denaturalized by the acceptance 
(»f the license. About the same time Judge Croke, 
of Halifax, adjudged, in the case of the brig Orion, 
Captain Jubin, from New York bound for Lisbon, 
with a license and cai)tured by the British bbxdv- 
ading vessels and sent into Halifax, that the vessel 
and cargo be restorcnl to her owner; " that the 
license having been granted previous to the block- 
ade, it protected her and all vessels from condemna- 
tion with such a license, although they should be 
captured departing from such blockaded ports in 
the United States." 

This peculiar weakness of British naval com- 
manders on the North American station — namely, 
that of taking all the cash out of a prize and allow- 
ing the vessel itself, with her cargo, to de])art in 
])(Mice — has an explanation from one of the com- 
iiianders hims(df which is almost as singular as the 
])ractice. When the M<ini<tni was recaptured by the 
T((i.:(')\ as just narrated, two letters were found 
al)oard her written by Captain Bray. The free-and- 
easy commander of the I'liiniprr, in one of these let- 
tei's, refreshingly explains his penchant for ready 
cash as follows: ^' Finding some few dollars in the 
brig [one of his (piasi ])rizes] whicdi I have taken, 
I thought it more wise to take tlnun out, as there is 
no difficulty in sharing them, au<l our people are 
very poor, some of them having had no money for 
these nine years ])ast." In the light of Captain 
Bray's statement, that " some of them [the English 
sailors] having had no money for these nine years," 
we can readily Ixdieve the statement i>ublished in 
a Baltimore paper under date of April 10, ISlo: '' A 



2-t6 "BRITISH LICENSES" AND REVENUE CUTTERS. 1812-1813. 

iiniiibcr of Britisli seamen, from thirty to fifty, have 
lately escaped from the [British blockadiiiii] squad- 
ron. One poor ftdlow had not been on shore for 
thirteen years, dnriiii;' which time he had never re- 
ceived one cent of i)ay or prize money." Some of the 
other prizes made by the Taizcr were the bri«>' Ann, 
which was sent in, and the bri<;' Peter, from New- 
castle for Halifax, with a full car<;'o of British mer- 
chandise, which arrived safely in Portland in the 
latter part of Au<;nst, 1812. In all the Teazer cap- 
tured two ships, six brigs, and six schooners, all but 
one reaching;' port.' 

On July 21), 1813, the l»resident ordered all our 
navy oftlcers to exercise the greatest vigilance in 
capturing American vessels engaged, or suspected 
of being engaged, in carrying provisions to the 
enemy. On August 5, 1813, the Secretary of War 
directed that " all officers of the army of the United 
States commanding districts, forts, or fortresses are 
commanded to turn back, and, in case of any attempt 
to evad(^ this order, to d(4ain all vessels, or river or 
bay craft, which may be suspected of proceeding to 
or communicating with, any station, vessel, squad- 
ron, or fleet of the enemy within the waters of the 
United States."- In September, 1813, the Anieri- 
<'ans fitted out the thn^e-masted vessel Tiuiofhj/ Pick- 
er'uifi at (lloucester to cruise after " licensed ves- 
sels'." 

Aii<»ther instance of the respect with which Eng- 
lish officers treat(Ml American vessels protected by 
British licenses is had in the following account pub- 
lished in a Boston paper August 4, 1813: " The ship 
Fair Aniericaii, Uaptain Weathers, which arrived 
here Monday from Lisbon, was boarded on the 26th 
of July in latitude 42°, longitude (54° from his Bri- 
tannic INIajesty's frigate Maidstone, Captain Burdett, 



' For the subsequent remarkable career of the Teazer, see preface. 
* C. K. Gardner, assistant adjutant-general. 



1813. CAPTAIN BURDETT'S BRUTALITY. 247 

after a clia.se of seventeen hours, and the following- 
particulars respectini>' the infamous treatment re- 
ceived from Captain liurdett were noted by the pas- 
sen<>ers, and are published at their request: 'At 
nine o'clock in the morninjj;- we were brought to and 
hailed by Captain Burdett, who stood in the main 
rigging, as follows: "Where are you from?" An- 
swer, " From Lisbon." '' Why did you not heave to 
and not run me so far out of my way?'' Answer, 
'*! understood there was a French squadron out, and 
I thought you might have been one of tliem." To 
which Burdett replied, " You have heard no such 
thing, sir. You are a liar — you ai-e a damned liar, 
sir — and your country are a damned set of liars — 
,you are a nation of liars! " and repeated tlu* same 
several times over, lie then continued, " I will cut 
ycnir cabin to pieces. Lower your topsail down, sir! 
Get a bag of dollars ready to pay for the shot I have 
hove at you — they were the king's shot, sir. You are 
an enemy, sir " (twice I'epeated), " for you have no 
license from my (lovernment, sir, or you would not 
have run away from me." Tie then repeated over 
several of the above blackguard expressions, and 
ordered Captain Weathers to come on board with 
his papers, which he (Munplied with, and while there 
was grossly insulted Avith the foulest language.' " 

" The brig DcspatcJi,"' records a contemporary 
])erio(lical, " a licensed vess(d belonging to Boston, 
was captured on the coast by the privateer (\isti- 
</(if(n\ regularly commissioned, of Salem. News of 
the incident having rc^ached tlu^ owners of the /)c.s'- 
jxitch, they fitted out two boats and tilled them with 
about fifty armed men for the avowed purpose of 
retaking the brig, then in the bay. Anticipating 
this attack, the people in the privateer sent aboard 
the Dcsjxitch a quantity of arms and ammunition to 
the i)rize master and his crew, with instructions 
to resist to the last. The boats approached. They 
were warned to keep off, but, persisting in closing, 



248 "BRITISH LICENSES" AND REVENUE CUTTERS. 1813. 

a liot fire was opened on both sides. By making a 
dash the men in the boats succeeded in recapturing 
the D('-'<patrh, and, confining the prize master and his 
men in the hohl, made sail for Boston. On entering 
the harbor the brig was stopped by a shot from the 
fort, taken possession of by the garrison and turned 
over to the customhouse officers. She was then 
libelled by the owners of the privateers. The leaders 
in the recapture were arrested and examined before 
Judge Davis, of the United States District Court." 
'* Their counsel," says the Boston (''hroni(de, " first 
endeavored to soften the affair into a riot, and sec- 
ondly io show that, as the alleg(Ml offense was com- 
mitted within the county of Suffolk, that the United 
States district (-(uirts had no jurisdiction over the 
case. Without attending much to the first, as being 
of little consequence at the time, the judge of course 
repelled the latter jdea and held the parties to bail. 
After the d(4Vndants had been recognized, inquiry 
being made for the witnesses who had testified on 
behalf of the TTnited States, that they might be 
recognized, as usual, information was given that 
souH^ of them had during the trial been arrested by 
the State authorities to answer for their conduct 
before the State courts. The honorable judge ex- 
pressed a strong disap]n'obation of such a hasty pro- 
cedure, and observed tlial it was by no means the 
mo(l<^ of ascertaining and deciding the rights of the 
]>arties in that stag<'. The privateersmen were held 
under recognizance by the State courts." One of 
thes(^ men proved to b(^ an ^' alien enemy," and was 
seized by a marshal and lodged in the guard ship to 
the end of the war. The (Ui.stif/dtor also took the 
Lir(f])<K)J Pdckrt, Oaptain llichards, from Lisbon for 
Boston, but the prize was released. 

In the first few weeks of the war several prizes 
were made by our revenue cutters. The Madl^ou, 
Captain George BrocdvS, returned to Savannah, July 
24, 1812, with a British snow mounting six guns, 6- 



1812-1813. CAPTURES BY REVENUE CUTTERS. 249 

and 9-poiniders, and manned b^^ fourteen men. She 
was from Liverpool, making for Amelia Island, and 
had a quantity of small arms and ammunition 
aboard. The Madison also took the 300-ton bris: 
8h(i III rock, carryinj;- six ••uns and sixteen men, whieh 
was sent into Savannah. The revenue cutter (i<il- 
lafiii, Captain Edward Ilerbtn-t, took the brio- (jcn. 
I'fdl JiJdke, August 10, 1S12, while sailini;- under Span- 
ish colors, and S(Mit her into Charleston.^ A few 
months later, or on April 1, 1S13, the (luJhit'ui, then 
commanded by Captain John IT. Silliman, was de- 
stroyed by an explosion of her magazine while lying 
in Charleston harbor, South Carolina. The cutter 
had arrived only the day before from a short cruise 
down the coast and ha<l anchored off the town. Soon 
afterward Captain Silliman went ashore, leaving 
orders for all the muskets and pistols wlii(di were 
kept in the cabin to be thoroughly (deaned. Of the 
thirty-five men on board when the explosion o<-- 
curred ten of them were in the cabin or on the 
quarter-deck engaged in carrying out their com- 
mander's orders. " Thus situated the dreadful 
explosion took place, and in an instant the whole 
quarter-deck of the vessel, with all those upon it, 
were hurled into the air. Some of the bodies were 
thrown nearly as high as the masthead of the ves- 
sel; others were driven through the cabin and lodged 
upon the main de(dc. The whole stern of the vessel 
was torn down to a level with the water; the main- 
sail, which had been hoisted to dry, was torn to rags, 
and the fragments of broktm spars were scattered 
in all directions. As soon as the accident had hap- 
pened, boats put off from the wharves and from the 
vessels near by to the relief of the crew. 

" An attempt was made to slip the cables and run 
her into one of the do(dvS to prevent her from siiik- 

' For tlic onpturo of the revenue cutter Surveyor, see Maclay's History 
of tlie Navy, vol. i, pp. 586, 587. 
19 



250 "BRITISH LK'ExNSES" AND RE VP]NUE CUTTERS. 1813. 

iiii;, but before this <(ml<l be fully accomplished the 
tire in the cabin had communicated with the main- 
sail and main riii,<»ini;, at the same time the vessel 
was found to be tilliiii;- very fast. In this extremity 
the wounded nn^i were hastened into the boats 
aloni;side, and by the time the persons on board 
could leav(^ her she Avent down st(M*nforemost, a 
few yards from the head <»f Blak(^'s ^Vharf. The 
bodi(^s <d three o,f the unfortunate^ sufferers were 
never seen; and hapi)i(n' would it have been for some 
of those who were brouiiht on shore if they had 
shared tluMi- fate, as they can not survive the dread- 
ful wounds and l»ruises wlii(di they have received. 
Jt lias been found im])ossible, after the most dili<;ent 
in(|uiri(^s, to ascertain the manner in which tire was 
communicat<Ml to the mai;azine; the persons imme- 
diately adjoiniiii; the cabin steps where the door 
opened froiu the cabin to the majiazine were de- 
stroyed." ' I'irst Lieutenant Thilips, <d' the (lallafiii, 
had left tlie cutter only a few minutes before the 
explosion took ]>lace, the mauazine being bxdved and 
the key bidnu in a drawer in the cabin. The only 
other ])erson of the vesscd's complement who had 
any business with this key, besides the captain and 
Lieut(Miant l*hili]»s, was the i^i'unner, and he was 
known to hav(» been on deck at tlu^ time of the dis- 
aster. No satisfactory explanation <d" the accident 
has ever been made. 



' Cluirlestou ("ourier. 



CHAPTER III. 

CAPTAINS MAFFITT AND SHALEK. 

Two (list iiiiiuislicd American })rivat(MM*snien who 
<iot to sea early iu this war were David Mattitt and 
Nathaniel Slialer. The former, at the beginnini;- of 
hostilities, commanded the AfJa.s, carrying twelve 
short 9-ponnders and one long" 9-ponnder,witli a com- 
plement of one hnndnMl and fonr men. The Afl<is\ 
early in Jnly, 1812, ( h^ared the Tapes of the Dela- 
ware, and when two days ont she overhanled the brig 
Tulip, Captain ^Nlonk, jnst ont from New York. The 
Tulip carried one of the Uritish licenses referred to in 
the prec<Mling chapter', and had on board one thon- 
sand fonr hnndi-ed barrcds of Honr and a (piantity of 
salt beef. Sr.si)ecting that this cargo might be for 
the enemy, Maffitt i>rctended to be sailing nnder Eng- 
lish colors, and kept \\]> the delusion so W(dl that the 
commandei' of the Tulip was satished that the Atlas 
was an l^nglish and not an Ann^'ican privateer. 
Acting on this belief, Ca])tain Monk said that he 
onght not to be (brained, as he had disitatidies from 
" Mr. Foster," an<l then the commander of the Tulip 
showed his " British license." 

" These ]>apers," said Captain Maffitt, "■ are quite 
satisfactory; and now, instead of sending yon into 
a IJi'itish ])ort, I will sen<l yon into the port of Phila- 
dclpliia." He then i)laced liv(^ men and a prize mas- 
tei' aboard the Tulip, who carried the brig saf(dy 
into that ])ort. ''We heard of a contract," said a 
riiiladfdphia newspa])er of that day, " made at New 

2'A 



25!i CAPTAINS MAP^FTTT AND SIIALKIx". 1812. 

York by Mr. Foster, niid also one at IMiiladclphia, 
to sni)]>ly the British armies [in SpainJ with tlonr, 
etc., nnder British licenses, and we were in liopes 
that tlie iiii^ennity, ent(^rprise, and manaj;einent of 
onr i>rivateersinen wouhl discover tlu^ traitors wlio 
w(M-e tlius adherin.n to our enemies, givin<»- them aid 
and comfort. Captain Matlitt deserves and will 
have the thanks of his fidlow-citizens for the adroit- 
ness and jnd!j,inent with which he ca]»tured the 

Tiiiipr 

('oiiliiiiiin;!; his ciaiise after his interception of 
the Tiilij), (^iptain .Maffitt, at half past ei,<;lit o'(do(dc 
on the morniini of An^nst oth — or two weeks before 
the first frijuate action of the war — discovered tw(^ 
sails to tlie west staiulinii- northeast, and he im- 
mediately ta(ke<l sontlnvard to reconnoiter. The 
Alias at that time was in latitnde 37° 50' north and 
lon.Liit ude 4(> west. An hour later she tacked north- 
ward, and wIkmi satistied lu^ had merchantmen to 
deal with Captain Maftitt IxMt to (piarters and 
< leai-e<l for action. At half ])ast ten o'cloidc the 
Alhis boi-e away for both ships, and, showinii Ameri- 
can colors, ]»r(^]tar<Ml to <dose with them. 

(^Miart<'r of an hour later the smallei- shi]) opened 
fire on the i»rivateer and hoisted English colors, her 
(example b(Mn<;' followed a few minutes later by her 
consoi't. ('ai)tain .Maflitt, however, reserved his tire, 
as he was anxious to come to (dose (inart(n'S imine- 
dialtdy. At <deven o'(do(d<, havini; ]daced his vessel 
between the two Eniilish ships, he o])ened with a 
broadside from ea<di battery, whitdi was followed np 
with vcdleys of mnsketry. The effect of the priva- 
teer's cannon tire at smdi (lose quarters was ter- 
rific, and in an hour the smaller ship hauled her 
colors down. This enabled ('"ai)tain ^rattitt to devote 
his entire attention to the lar,i»er shi]», which had 
been makini;- a jiallant fiiiht and was kee])inii' \i\) a 
destructive fire. Scarcely had the Alius tnrned from 
the smalb^r ship, liowever, when, to the surprise of 



181~\ CAPTURE OP THE PURSUIT AND PLANTER. 253 

tlic AiiK'i'ieans, the latter opened fire again, notwith- 
standing;- the fact that she had snrrendered and her 
cohjrs were down. Captain ^laffitt reopened on this 
vessel, and in a few minntes drove every man below 
decks. 

xVll this time a lieavy fire liad been kei)t np by 
the Americans from their opi)osite battery on the 
larger ship, and it was seen that she was snffering 
heavily. At twenty minutes past twelve her flag- 
came down, ni)on which a ])rize crew Avas placed 
aboard her and her people disarmed. She was the 
Pursuit, a vessel of four hundred and fifty tons, car- 
rying sixteen guns and a crew of thirty-five men. 
A prize crew also was sent aboard the second ship, 
the J'ldiiU'f. She was of two hundred and eighty 
tons burden, and carried tw(dve 12-pounders and a 
crew of fifteen men. Both ships were thirty days 
out from Surinam for London, laden with a cargo 
of coffee, cotton, cocoa, and six hundred hogsheads 
of sugar. 

In this action the Afht.s was badly cut up in her 
rigging and spars. Every one of her shrouds on the 
])ort side was carried away, which, with the loss 
of other standing rigging and the foreyard, placed 
her masts in a critical coudilion. Two of her crew 
had been killed and five wen^ wounded. In view of 
1 he shattered condition of his vessel, Captain ^lafiitt 
determined to make for the first port in the United 
States and refit. Taking the crews of both the Pur- 
suit and the PI(i)ifcr aboard the Atlas for safer keep- 
ing, he headed southward, with his ]»rizes in com- 
pany. 

For nearly a month the three vessels continue<l 
on their voyage westAvard without nudestation, but 
at half ])ast four o'cbxdv on the morning of Septem- 
bei- 2(1 a large shi}) was discovered to the east stand- 
ing soutliward. An hour later it was seen that she 
Avas a frigate, and shortly afterward she taidvcd 
and iiave chase to the three vessels. Relieving 



254 CAPTAINS MAPPITT AND SHALER. 1S12. 

her to be an Eii^ulislinum, Captain ^laffitt jn-oniptly 
bore down and directed tlie prize master of the riir- 
{^itit to tack southward and make the tirst i)ort he 
conhl. The Atla^ then ran close to the I'laiitcr and 
told her prize master that in all probability the 
frii;ate was an enemy, and onh^red him to sail north- 
ward, Captain INIaffitt decidini; to take his (diances 
with the friiiate alone. 

By ten o'c lock the Pursuit was out of sii-ht to the 
south; but instead of sini;liui;- out the AtJax, as was 
expected, the friiiate made for the riaiitci; and by 
eleven o'clock it was schmi that she was fast cominj;- 
up with her. (''ai)tain Mattitt now ba(dved his main 
topsail and awaited developments. At half i)ast 
one o'cl(H'k the frii;ate opened on the Phnifcr with 
her bow chasers, and at the fifth shot oblij^ed her 
to heave to. Observini"- that the frigate was llyin^- 
Enj^lish colors, and realiziuii' that h(^ could be of no 
l)ossible assistance to his late ])rize. Captain Maffitt 
made sail westward. At half i)ast three the ships 
were still in siinht, the I'Unilcr ilyini;- American colors 
at the mizzen peak. As this (lis]>lay of the r"^nited 
States ensijiii on the Pluiitcr could t^asily have been 
resorted io by an I^lniiilish frij^ate as a ruse for de- 
coyinj.^ the privateer uiKh'r her i;uns, Captain ^faffitt 
kept on his course and _naine<l j)ort. Subsequently, 
he learniMl that tlu* man-of-war was, in truth, an 
American, the 32-<^un frigate JJsscr, Captain David 
Porter. Both of the AfJus' prizes arrived safely in 
port. 

IJefittinm- after her first successful cruise, the 
A this .li'ot to sea aji'ain; but Ca])taiu Maffitt, early in 
the summer of 1S18, was com]»elled to run int(> Ocra- 
coke luhd, North Carolina, where he found the 18- 
gun privateer An<ic(>u<l(i, Cai)tain Nathaniel Shaler, 
of New" York. Captain Shaler, like Captain ^faffitt, 
was one of the successful privateersmen of this 
struji'in'le. llis first command was the 14 -nun 
schooner (lorcruor TonipJx-'uis, of New York, but owned 



1812. THE GOVERNOR TOMPKINS TRAPPED. 255 

])riii<i])ally by pcoj^lc liviiii;- in Baltimoi'c. This ves- 
sel bad b'ft port about tbe time the Alias made her 
first venture and had met witli some succc^ss. In 
order to r(dieve himself of a numbei- of prisoners, 
Captain Sbaler i)laced tliem aboard a whaler from 
London, bound for the South Sea. The whaler had 
been interceptcMl by the (iormior ^rompkiits and 
ordered to r'almouth. 

In (diasiii<4 the whaler Captain Shaler had been 
drawn some distauee from his eruisiiii;' ground, and, 
owinj;- to calms, did not re<;ain it until December 
25, 1812. At sunrise on that day (\iptain Shaler 
discovered three shii)s ahead and made sail in chase. 
As the wind was light the privateer came uj) t«) 
them slowly, but it was not long' before they were 
made out to be two ships and a hv\<^. There was 
somethiui;- about the api)earaiice of one of the sliii»s 
that causcMl Captain Shaler anxiety, and he pre- 
pared to act with more caution. He noticed that 
she seemed to be industriously en<;a<j,-ed in commuui- 
catino- with her consorts. Boats were observed to 
be liurriedly ])ullin,n' between her and the other ves- 
sels. Besides this, she had boardinii' nettini:,s almost 
U]) to her to])s, with her to])mast studdini;' sail 
booms out and sails at their ends ready for spread- 
inii. •!<'!' ports were painted, and sIk^ carried some- 
tliiuii on her deck that resembled a merchantman's 
b(»at. 

Believinjrv her to be a larj^e transport. Captain 
Shaler was approachiiiii,' cautiously under En,i2,lish 
cohn-s, when suddenly, at three o'(do(dv in the after- 
noon, a s(iuall from the north strucdc the privateer, 
and as (he sup])osed trans])ort had not yet felt the 
wind the Americans in a few minutes found thcMU- 
selves carried within a (luarter of a mile of the 
slranuci'. Ca])tain ShaliM' had done his best to ,ii(^t 
his lijuhl sails in, but smdi was the force of the wind 
that he found his vess(d cai-ried toward the stranger 
almost befor<' he T-onld turn round. Just before 



256 CAPTAINS MAPFITT AND SHALER. 1«12. 

the squall struck him he had told First Officer Far- 
uum that he thought the stranger too heavy to be a 
privateer, and he ordered the first officer to go for- 
ward and take another look through his glass. It 
was then that the stranger showed herself to be, not 
a transport, but a tirst-class frigate, and, tricing -up 
their ports, her people delivered a broadside that 
killed two and wounded six of the Americans, one 
of the latter mortally. Among the wounded was 
Mr. Farnum. Seeing that further concealment was 
unnecessary, the American commander hauled down 
the English colors and sent u]) three American en- 
signs, and, trimming his sails by the wind, began 
an animated fire from his puny battery. 

At this moment the privateer was a little abaft 
the frigate's beam, and for Captain Shaler to have 
attemi)t('d to tack in a hard squall would have ex- 
l)0sed him to a raking fir(\ To have attempted to 
tack and failing to do so would have placed his 
schooner hoi)elessly within the poAver of her huge 
antagonist. Captain Shaler, therefore, determined 
to receive the enemy's fire on the tack on which he 
had been standing, h(q)ing to outsail the frigate and 
pass beyond her bow, where he would not be exposed 
to h(M' dreaded broadside. 

The Englishman also kei)t on the same tack, and 
the two vessels ran along side by side, giving and 
receiving a spii'ited fire. Unfortunately for Captain 
Shaler's calculations, the English frigate proved to 
be a remarkably fast sailer — almost as fast as the 
privateer — so that she managed to keep her broad- 
side guns playing with full effect on the chase much 
longer than th(^ American had anticipated. " Such 
a tune as was pla,yed round my ears," wrote Captain 
ShalcM', '' I assure you I never wish to hear again in 
the same key." 

But in spite of the terrific fire they were ex- 
])osed to, the Americans held their course, with their 
tri])l(^ colors defiantly fl^'ing in the gale. Almost at 



1812. ESCAPE OF THE GOVERNOR TOMPKlxN'S. 257 

her first fire, a shot from the frigate blew up one 
of the Gorcnior Toiiipkiiis' shot boxes, in which were 
two 9-ponn(ler cartridges. Their explosion set fire 
to a number of pistols and three tnbe boxes, which 
were lying in the companion way, all of which ex- 
ploded. Some of the tubes passed through a crevice 
under the com])anion leaf and fell to the cabin tloor, 
near the entrance to the magazine. For an instant 
it was feared that the ship would be blown up, but 
fortunately the precaution of wetting the cabin 
floor and drenching the screen, or woolen blanket 
over the hatch leading to the powder room, pre- 
vented any further explosion. 

Soon after this a heav}^ shot hit a colored sea- 
man named John Thompson on the hip, taking off 
both legs and horribly mutilating the lower part of 
his body. Notwithstanding his agonj" he lay on the 
deck, and before he died he exclaimed several times 
to those around him, "' Fire away, boys! Nebber haul 
de colors down." Another black sailor, named John 
Dayis, was m(>rtally hurt in much the same way. He 
fell to the deck near where Captain Slialer was 
standing, and re(]ueste(l that lu^ might b(^ thrown 
oyerboard, so that his body would not encumber the 
working of the guns. 

F(n' half an hour the (rorcmoi- l^mipl-'uis' was sub- 
jected to tliis d(\structiye fire. At the end of that 
tiuK^ she began to draw ahead (►f llie frigate and the 
enemy's shot gradually fell short. At half past 
four, howeyer, the wind died away, but tln^ English 
ship still hcdding a good breez(% her shot again 
began to tly un])leasantly round the ears of the 
Americans. ('a]ttain Shaler now relieyed his 
s(diooner of all the lumber on her deck and threw 
oyerboard some two thousand pounds of shot from 
the after hold. He then got out his sweeps, and, set- 
ting all hands to work, gradually dre^y away from 
"one of the most quarrelsome com])anions that I 
ever met," as he grimly expressed it. 



258 CAPTAINS MAPFITT AND SHALER. 1812-1814. 

IMiidiiij; that lie was steadily losing groimd, the 
English ship, at 5.25 i'. m., hove about and returned 
t<t iiei- consorts. l-'roni information subsequently 
gained, Captain Shaler believed that his ''quarrel- 
some foe " was the British frigate Laiircl, one of the 
ships manned and fitted expressly to eope with the 
heavy American 44-gun frigates. The Laurel was 
reputed to be one of the fastest sailers in the long 
list of l^ritish frigates, 

Iveturning from this cruise Captain Shaler as- 
sumed the command of tlu^ 13-gun brig Aiidcoiida, of 
New York. The subse(]uent career of the dorcnior 
^J'oiiipkiiis was one fraught with riclu^s for her nnui 
and owners. Among her commanders was Captain 
J. Skinner, and among tlx' prizes was the Nereid, 
which was sold in New York, the gross receipts, ex- 
(dusive of jewelry, amounting to two hundred and 
seventy thousand dollars. Other prizes taken by this 
favorite shi]) were the brig lyV/.r, mounting two guns, 
from whi(di a quantity of valuable drygoods was 
taken; the 2-gun brig Ilcnilei/, from Ciibraltar for San 
Salvador, whi(di was burned; and the brig Yokii;/ Ifii.s- 
hdiid, laden with drygoods, hardware, etc., from Bris- 
tol for iNIadeira, whicdi was sent into Newport. Of 
these prizes the Nereid was the most valuable. She 
was of two hundred and eighty tons burden and car- 
ried ten guns. She was taken off ^Madeira, from T.on- 
don for ]>uenos Ayres, and had on board two hun- 
dred and fifty bales of drygoods, two hundred an<l 
sixty-thi'ee ytackages and trunks of the same, one 
hundred and fifty casks, hogsheads, and tierces of 
hardware^ and jewelry, eight hundred and sixty-nine 
bundles of iron hoops, eighty bars of iron, and a 
(piantity of coal, the entii-e cargo being valued at 
sev(Mity-five thousand ])ounds. In February, 1814, 
the (loreriior Toiiipl-iiis cai)tured a whaler bound to 
the South S(^i, whi(di was divested and turned into 
a cartel. In March of the same year she took the 
brig lleiiri/, of six guns, whi(di was sent into New 



1813. THE ANACONDA ATTACKS THE COxMMODOKE HULL. 059 

York and sold for two hundred thousand dolhirs. 
In a brief crniso in the Ens^lish Channel the dorvrnor 
To)iipkins made ten i)rizes. In her entire career she 
made twenty i)rizes, three of which were valued at 
half a million dollars. 

Captain Shaler's career in the AiHicoiidd was 
marked at the outset by an occurrence wliic h well 
illustrates the disadvantages of having;- our com- 
merce destroyers under private niana_i;ement. 
While off Cai)e Cod, January KJ, 1813, the AiKicoiidit, 
throuj;h lack of a j^ood system of signaling- betAveen 
our (rovernment war shii)S and the privateers, mis- 
took the United States war scdiooner CoiiiDiodoir If nil 
for an enemy, and tired a broadside into her before 
the mistake was discovered. By this tire the com- 
mander of the CoiHiiKxlorc H nil, Lieutenant U.S. New- 
comb, was seriously wounded. First Ollicer Bur- 
bank, of the Auctcoiuhi, was blamed for th<' mistake, 
but on court-martial the privateer's peo])le were re- 
lieved from responsibility in the matter. 

Makinii' for European waters, the An(ic<ni<hi, on 
]May 14, 1813, while in the latitude of the (^ape de 
Verde Islands, fell in with the British ])acket ship 
hJ.r press, a briji,' carrying" eleven 12-pounders and a 
crew of thirty-eiiiht men. She was from Kio de 
Janeiro bound for En«;land, havin<i' on board eighty 
thousand dollars in specie and two hundred and 
thirty stands of musk(4s. In thi^ shar]) action of 
thirty-tive minutes that follow(^d the Eniilishmen 
made a brave resistance, but finally were overcome, 
havinji; their spars and riii^iuu nnudi cut and five 
feet of water in their hold. The ])riz(\ after the 
s])ecie and valuables w(M'e taken out of her, was ran- 
somed for eiiiht thousand dollars. Soon afterward 
the Anacoiidd seized the 8-|L!,un briii' Man/, from (Ji- 
braltar for Brazil, havinii' on board wine and silks 
valued at thirty-tive thousaml dollars. This prize 
was sent into New Haven. In the same month, June, 
Ca])tain Shaler ca])tnred the brig Harriet, from 



200 



CAPTAINS MAFFITT AND SliALER. 



1818. 



BuL'Uos Ayres for London, laden Avitli hides and tal- 
low, invoiced at one bnndred thousand dollars. This 
vessel was carried into New Bedford. The estimated 




^lap of Allioiiiarle and Painlieo Sounds. 

valm^ of all the Anaconda s prizes was two hundi-ed 
and fifteen thousand dollars. Early in July Captain 
Shaler ran into Ocracoke Inlet, where he found the 
Atlas, as we have seen. 



1813. THE ANACONDA AND ATLAS CAPTURED. ^JBl 

On the iiijj^bt of July 12, 1813, Rear-Admiral Coek- 
bnru appeared off this inlet with the 74-i;nn ship 
of the line Sceptre, the frigates Rom id us, Few, and 
NeDiesi.s, the war brig CoufiUi, and the tenders lliiih- 
fJi/cr and CoeJ:e]tafer, having on board about five hun- 
dred men of the Oiu* Hundred and Third Kegiment 
and a detachment of artillery, for the purpose of 
destroying these two privateers, whieh Cockburn 
had learned liad taken refuge there. As this power- 
ful squadron approached the inlet the masts of the 
Atlas and AiidcoiKta were jdainly seen, and the encMuy 
at once nia«le pr(q)arations for an attack. At 2 A. M. 
on the 13th the troops embarked in l)oats, and, under 
the escort of the light-draft tenders and the Cou filet, 
made toward the shore in three divisions. Owing 
to the lu'avy ocean swell and the great distance at 
which the lieavier v<'ssels were obliged to anchoi' 
from th(^ beach, the division under Lieutenant West- 
])lial, of the Sceptre, did not land until daylight, 
which deprived the enemy of the advantages of a 
night attack. 

Having arranged their plan of attack, the British 
boats, under cover of a rapid discharge of rockets, 
doubled the point of land behind which tlic ])riva- 
teers were anchored, and dashed toward them in 
gallant style. Idealizing that it would be madness 
to oppose the overwiielming foi-cc that was advanc- 
ing u]»on liim, ('a]itain Shaler cut liis cables and got 
ashore Avilli liis men, the British taking ]>ossession 
of tlic AiKicoiidd without oi>]>osition. The guns of 
tlial vessid wei-e now turned u])on the Attas, and 
('a])tain Maflitt, seeing tlx' uselessness of I'csistance, 
surrenderiMl. Elaled with tlieir easy ca]»ture of 
these two formidable ])rivateers, the enemy advanced 
against the viUage of Portsmouth, seizing that ])lace, 
and were pre])ai-ing to attack New Berms wIkmi they 
leai'ued that vigorous measui'es w<M"e being taken 
by the inhabitants to re])el an assault. The project 
against New Berne was abandoned, and, after hold- 



262 CAPTAINS MAFFITT AND SHALER. 1813-1814. 

ing rortsmoutli two days, the enemy retired to their 
ships and sailed away. Both the Atlas and the Ana- 
coiKla were talven into the British navy, the latter 
retaining- her name and the former rechristened 
»S7. LmrrcHcc. The St. IjUirniin', as will be shown 
in anothtM- cliapter,' was recaptured, after one of the 
most brilliant actions of the war, by the Americans. 
The HUjlipjicr, also one of the vessels engaged in this 
affair, was captured on the 2o(l of the following Sep- 
temljer by the American 44-gun frigate President, 
Captain John IJodgers. The llif/lipi/rr at that time 
was commanded by Lieutenant George Hutchinson. 

Captain Shaler did not get to sea again as a com- 
mander of an American privateer; but Captain Maf- 
ti((, n(dwithstanding the loss of his ship, soon se- 
cured the command of the splendid l()-gun brig R<it- 
th.sinil'(\ and in company with the privateer *S'co/nv/r, 
Captain Samuel Nicoll, a native of Stratford, Con- 
necticut, iuad(^ one of the most successful ventures of 
the war; the IxnttlesiKike alone sending into Norway 
one million dollars' worth of ])rizes. The Hvoiirije had 
sailed from New York in April, ISlo, for a cruise on 
the north coast of England. After taking a number 
of ]>rizes Ca])tain Nicoll, on July l!)th, while off Cape 
North, fell in with the United States 44-gun frigate 
r)-(si(l(iit, Cai)tain John liodgers, and cruised in h<^r 
com]>auy some tim(\ A number of British vessels 
sailing to and from Archangel were secured, most 
of them being sent into Norwegian jxn-ts. 

Soon after ]»arting from the /'resident tlu^ i^eoiirfje 
UK't the l\(ilflesii(il-i\ and, having a number of i)rison- 
ers aboard, both ]>rivateers ran into Drontheim, 
whei-e Cai>tain Nicoll went ashore to attend to the 
sale of his ])rizes, while the Seoiii-f/e was refitted and 
went to sea, in th(^ following si)ring, under the com- 
mand of her tirst ofHcc^i', J. K. Perry. This was on 
March 10, 1S14, aiul on A])ril 1st, while off Cape 

' S(H- pat^cs '2n.")-3()0. 



1814. THE WELL-NAMED SCOURGE. 2H,'', 

Wrath, the privateer took the ^jimmcirji, a fine vessel 
from Liverpool, coppered, and laden with salt, 
crates, hardware, etc. This vessel was in company 
with the ship Wuichcshr and the brip; ViiUni, both of 
which were soon taken by the nimble i<r(nn-<i<\ These 
vessels were bound for Lon<^' Hope, where they were 
to oet a convoy. Ilavin^ii' taken ont the most valu- 
able .s>(»ods, Captain Perry burncMl the vessels and 
]>lac<'d the ])risoners aboard a Swedish ship. 

The ScoHi-fic hovered on the English coast some 
time. On Ai)ril 7th she (diased a (IreiMiland whaler 
and fired ten broadsides into her, and undoubtedly 
would have ca])1ur(Ml her had not a sloo]) of war 
close inshore t^iven (diase. For six hours it was a 
hard run, but the ]trivateer finally escaped, althouoh 
she strained her foi'e-toi>mast. A week later, whih^ 
in a moderate bre<v.e, both her to])masts were carried 
away, the wihm kai^e killiui; one man and wounding 
three. This misha]), however, did not ]n-event the 
Sc()iir(/c from refittinii,' at sea and continuing her 
cruise. On May IMli she boarded tlu^ American ])riva- 
teer /-W, Captain I'rown, of Portsmouth, New Hamp- 
shire, foi'ty days out. The /'o.r, it seems, had made 
four ]>rizes, two of which had been destroyed, the 
other two being ordered into ])ort. Captain Brown 
at one time had been hotly ])nrsued by a P>ritish 
frigate, and, though effecting his escape, he had been 
obliged to throw overboard ten of his guns. Sub- 
seipK'utly he chased a vesscd whi(di he took to be a 
merchnutman, and did not discover she was a 
sloo]) of war until h(^ was close aboard, when she 
triced up lier ])orts and let go two broadsides at the 
/•'o.r. The privateer, although hit several times — 
one shot going through an arms (diest — managed to 
esca])e. The i^coiinjc saile<l for the United States, 
ai-riving at Chatham, Cape Cod, in ^fay, having been 
absent more than a year, in which time she had 
taken tM'enty-seven vessels and four hundred and 
t wenty prisoners. 



264 CAPTAINS MAFFITT ANT) SIIALER. 1813-1814. 

Meantime the RdlthsiKikc liad been giving a good 
account of lierself. Between August 10 and August 
22, 1813, Captain IMaffitt took the brigs Brtsri/^ Par, 
Thvt'ix, DUif/ciif, and Friends Adrviifurc, besides the 
sl()(»]>s rtrscrcniiicc and Funic. In all, the RattleHnake 
took eighteen vessels. Captain Maffitt spent the 
winter of 1818 '14 in Enr(>p(% and early in the latter 
year we find him at La Kocludle, where, after wit- 
iH'ssing the marvelous i'Sca]K' of the Ida, as narrated 
in another chapter,^ he was blockaded by a British 
squadron. Escaping from that port, after the Ida 
got to sea, the Rattlrsiidlc was cajdninMl, June 3, 1814, 
by the British frigate Ili/prrioii. 

' Soc chapter xv, Escape of tlie Ida. 



CHAPTER IV. 

PRIVATEERS OF RHODE ISLAND. 

ALTiior<ai one of the smallest States in the 
Union, Ixhode Island sent ont several privateers in 
this war which made np for deflciency in number 
by the vast amount of damage they inflieted upon 
tlie enemy's eommerce. A peculiarity of Khode 
Island's privateers was the fact that they monopo- 
lized the name '' Yankee." They had the YditJccc, the 
True J>h>()(l('(] Ydiilre, the YaiiJxrc JjOss, the Yanh'c 
AiiK'ricdii, and the Y<iiil-<r l\)rter. The last two, 
though hailing from Salem and New York respec- 
tively, were largel}' manned by lUiode Island sea- 
men. The first to get to sea was the YoiiJx-ce. She 
was a brig of one hundred and sixty-eight tons, 
armed with the usual long toni amidships, a 12- 
])ound(n-, and fourteen short guns, 9- and (I-pounders, 
in her broadsides. Her owners were James De Wolf 
and John Smith, of Bristol, the former having three 
fourths and the latter one fourth interest in hov. 
She sailiMl on her first cruise the middle of July, 1812, 
under the command of Captain Oliver Wilson, and 
made for the coast of Nova Scotia. About noon, 
August 1st, when off the harbor of Halifax, a sail 
was reported to Ca])tain Wilson bearing off the lee 
boAV some four miles away, the ihUk weather having 
])revented her discov(n*y before this. The stranger 
was seen to be a large ship, a])]iarently well ai'ined. 
Captain ^^'ilson boldly ran down, and by 1 r. m. lie 
was near enough to observe that she was preparing 
20 265 



2(;(^, PRIVATEERS OF RHODE ISLAND. 1812. 

for battle. The Aiuericnns were then sent to <|nar- 
ters, and beini"- to windward they approached the 
stranger on her weather qnarter. When within 
(dose ranj^e the ship showed English colors, where- 
npon Captain Wilson fired his first division of unns. 
As the Yaiih'f began to donble on the Englishman's 
qnarter the Americans ponred in a fnll broadside, 
to whi( h the stranger promptly replied, and the fir- 
ing became rapid and well snstained on both sides. 
As the two vessels were> at (dose quarters, the 
American marksmen in the tops opened an effective 
fire with their small arms. 

It was not long before the enemy's sails and rig- 
ging were cnt to pieces and their helmsman was 
shot at the wheel. This cansed some confusion in 
their ship, whi< h rapidly increased under the de- 
structive fire maintained by the Americans. About 
this time the Y(niJ{(r ran off a short distance and 
then luff(Ml across the stranger's bow, where a ter- 
rific raking broadside was d(divered, whicdi, followed 
up with a shower of musket balls, compelled the 
Englishman to surrender. The i>rize proved to be 
the British privateer Roi/al Jioinifi/, Captain Henry 
Gambles, a splendid vess(d of six hundred and fifty- 
eight tons — about four times as large as the Yankee 
— mounting ten guns, but manned by only twenty- 
five men. It was probably owing to the circumstance 
of her being short-handed that she yielded so soon 
as she did. Captain Wilson displayed true mettle 
in atta(d-:ing such a formidal)le-looking ship when 
he was necessarily ignorant of her condition. The 
Yanl-ec's complement consisted of one hundred and 
twenty officers and men. The Roi/al Bounfji was 
seven weeks out from Hull in ballast, bound for 
Prince Edward Island. 

In this action the Americans had three men 
wounded, while their sails and rigging were some- 
what damaged. The English craft had two men 
killed and seven wounded, among the latter being 



1812. SECOND CRUISE OP THE YANKEE. 2H7 

thoir coinniander and one or two of his officers. The 
hull, sails, and rigi>ing of the Roj/al Bouufj/ were cut 
to pieces and all her boats were shattered, more than 
one hundred and fifty heavy shot having struck her. 
With charact(U'istic kindness the American com- 
mander, on hearing of the casualties in his prize, 
sent his surgeon aboard to attend to the enemy's 
wounded. Transferring the prisoners to his own 
ship, Captain Wilson placed a pi'ize crew in the Ixoi/al 
Boinifj/ and ordered her to an American i>ort. Con- 
tinuing her cruise the Yanhr captured several other 
British vessels — the most valuable being the Elizd 
Aim, from Liverpool, with a full cargo of British 
goods, which was sent into Boston, August 2Gth — 
and tluMi returned to port. 

About the middle of October, 1812, the Yaiihv 
sailed on her second cruise, still undei' the command 
of Captain Wilson. This time* the privateer steered 
for the west coast of Africa, and was not long in 
making known her arrival. Her first " appi'o])ria- 
tion *' was the British sloop }fari/ Ami, Cai)tain 
Sutherland, a coppered vessel from London, carry- 
ing four guns and eleven men. The Englishmen 
did not have an op])ortunity to resist, and were 
taken aboard the i)rivateer as prisoners. The Mart/ 
Ann was found to have on board gold dust, ivory, and 
camwood to the value of twenty-eight thousand dol- 
lars, which were taken aboard the Ydiihr and then 
the sloop was burned. The next prize was another 
coppered vessel, the schooner Aider, Captain Crow- 
ley, from Liverpool, carrying six 9-pounders and 
twenty-one men. Tln^se people made a stubborn de- 
fens(% but on the blowing up of their quarter-deck, 
by which their commander and six of his crew 
were killed, they surrendered. The Alder had in her 
hohl four hundred casks <tf musket flints, a quan- 
tily of bar lead, iron, and drygoods, the entin^ cargo 
and vessels being valued at twenty-four thousand 
dollars. 



2t)8 PRIVATEERS OF RHODE ISLAND. 1812. 

Skirting along the coast of Africa, Captain Wil- 
son looked into every port, river, and factory town 
in search of the enemy. At one place there was a 
fort called Appollonia, mounting fifty guns, though 
it is probable that most of them were not service- 
able. Discovering a brig snugly anchored under 
the guns of this formidable-looking fort, Captain 
Wilson organized an expedition for the purpose of 
cutting the brig out. The plan was put through in a 
most audacious manner. The brig, which proved to 
be the FJji, was taken from her anchorage near the 
fort and brought out in safety. Her commander was 
Captain Tydemaii. The Fly carried six guns and had 
fourteen men aboard. Her cargo consisted of gold 
dust, ivory, gunpowder, iron, drygoods, and various 
other articles, the vessel and cargo being valued at 
thirty-six thousand dollars. Captain Wilson placed 
a prize crew aboard the FJij and ordered her to the 
United States. 

Another vessel tak«^n by the Yanlxvc on this cruise 
was the brig TJuniifs, Ca])tain Tocde, of Liverpool, 
carrying eight guns and fourteen men, with a cargo 
of drygoods, camwood, and redwood worth forty 
thousand dollars. This vessel also was manned and 
arrived safely in Boston. Not long after he had seen 
the TJhiiiics fairly off, Ca])tain Wilson fell in with 
the brig TJiirrlct mid Mailhhi, Captain Innian, from 
Cork for Peruambu<-o, carrying (Mght guns and four- 
teen men. This vessel at one time had been a Portu- 
guese war brig, (a])tur(Ml by the English in 1808. At 
the time of her falling into the clutches of the Yaiil'ce 
she had on board a cargo of fine cloths, linens, iron, 
salt, and porter to the valiu^ of forty-one thousand 
dollars, which were duly appropriated by the cap- 
tors. The fifth prize made by Captain Wilson was 
the brig ^^Ikihiioii — by one account the Aiiddliisia — 
Captain Kendall, from ^raranham for Liverpool, 
having on board ten guns and one hundred men, of 
whom eighty-one were free blacks. This vessel and 



1812-1813. BOLD DASH ON" THE AFRICAN COAST. 0(]<) 

cargo, worth tliirty-foiir thousand dollars, arrived 
safely at Savannah. 

While lookini;- into Tradetown Captain Wilson 
observed a schooner lying- tln^'e at an(dior. He made 
a bold dash into the port and eanie out with the 
scdiooner f/ro/v/r, havinii' on board a cargo of rice. 
Taking out iwo thousand live hnndriMl dollars' worth 
of this coniinodit}', Captain Wilson jtlaced all his 
prisoners in the (icornc and gave them permission 
to make for whatever port they pleased, while he 
turned the prow of the Tanlire westward. Before 
reaching the American side of the Atlantic Captain 
Wilson made his eighth prize, the schooner Alfred. 
The Y(nil-(c, after tonidung at several Portuguese is- 
lands for water and '' information,"' arrived in New- 
port — by another account Bristol — in INIarch, 1813, 
having taken, in a cruise of one hundred and fifty 
days, eight vessels, one hundred and ninety-six men, 
four hundred and six muskets, and property to the 
value of two hundred and ninety-six thousand (l<d- 
lars. Soon after gaining port the owners of the 
Yditl-cc had the satisfaction of learning that the 
cai'go of the >^]i(nni(>n, whi( h had been appraised by 
Cai)tain AMlson at only thirty-four thousand dollars, 
had realized sixty-seven thousand hve hundred and 
twenty-one dollars. 

But the thrifty Yniihcr could not long remain in 
port, and soon after settling her accounts, and after 
giving herself a little brushing up, she ]nit to sea 
again at seven o'( lotk on the evcMiing of ]May 20, 
1813, this time under the command of Captain Elisha 
Snow. It was knoAvn to Captain Snow that an Eng- 
lish frigate and a 14-gun brig of war were waiting 
for him in the neighborlKXHl of Block Island, but 
under cover of night he succ(H^ded in giving the 
cruisers the slip, and was again in blue water. Two 
days after leaving port the Yd'ulrr captured the Brit- 
isli brig ^YiUianl and ordered her in, but unfortu- 
natelv the latter fell into the clutches of the friaate 



270 PRIVATEERS OP RHODE ISLAND. 181:3. 

whicb the Ydiilrc had cliKhMl. On llio day he took 
the Will ia lit Captain Snow fell in with a Portn<>nese 
schooner, and after parolini^' the men he had taken 
ont of his prize he placed them aboard the l*ortu- 
o'uese and resumed his cruise. 

On May 30th the Yaiihc came across the Encjlish 
brio- Thames, the second vessel bearino- that name 
which she had met dnrinj;- her career in this war. 
The TJkiiiic^ carried fourteen iiuns, but was manned 
by only twenty men. Neyertheless the Britons made 
a oaHant fij;ht, and it was not until after an action of 
more than an hour that they could b(^ induced to sur- 
ren(U^r. She was sent into J*ortland, where the brig 
and caro'o of more than two thousand bales of cot- 
ton were sohl for one hundred and ten thousand dol- 
lars, (^n June 3d the ]n'iyateer overhauled a Portu- 
guese briii' from New York, and ('a])tain Snow placed 
in her the ofticers and men of the Tliaiiics, after they 
had ii'iyen their promise not to serye aj^ainst the 
United States ajiain in this war. 

By the middle of Juno ('a])tain Snow was near- 
inii' the coast of Ireland, and on the 22(1, when in 
si^lit of land, he ca]>tured the slooj) Earl Camden, of 
oiu' hundred and ten tons, yalued at ten thousand 
dollars, which was ordered to I'^rance. Eight days 
later, while still in sight of the Irish coast, he took 
the English brig Elizahetli, of one hundred and fifty- 
six tons, lad(Mi with cotton estimated to be worth 
eighty thousand dollars, Ayhi<di also was ordered to 
France. On the same day Captain Snow took the 
brig Mil I son, carrying thr(M» guns and fifteen men. 
She had on board bale cotton valued at sixty thou- 
sand dollars. 

Still (dinging to the Irish coast. Captain Snow 
on July 1st stood (dose in to land, and after 
paroling his prisoners ])laced them in two lioats 
and " directed " them to make for the shore. Scarce- 
ly had these boats put off when the lookouts re- 
ported a strange sail. Chase was promptly given, 



1818. BATTLE WITPI A SPANIARD. 271 

and in a short time the Yauhr overlianhMl the 
schooner (Utcs, of Londonderry, hiden with prodnce. 
As this vessel was of littk' value she was released 
after some artiides of value to her captors had been 
taken out. Continuini;- within si<>lit of the coast, the 
Yankee on the following day seized the brij;- Mariner, 
laden with rum and su.ii'ar to the value of seventy 
thousand dollars, whi(di was ordered to France. The 
officers and crew of this i>riz(% after beino- paroled, 
were i)lac(Hl in a boat and permitted to land. 

The whereabouts of the mischievous Yankee were 
now so w<dl known to the enemy, throu<»h the re- 
l)orts broui^ht by these paroled prisoni^'S, that Cap- 
tain Snow deemed it prudent to stand out to sea, and 
on July 23d he i^ave chase to a promisinj;- sail. When 
within gunshot the Yankee discharged her bow 
chaser, but as no attention was paid to this sum- 
mons to heave to a second gun was fired. This shot 
also was nnh(HHled, whereupon Captain Snow hoisted 
American colors with a pennant and sent a shot into 
the stranger. The latter then displayed Spanish 
colors and discharged her stern gun. jMeantime the 
Yankee was rapidly gaining, and on coming within 
I)istol shot the Americans fired a lee gun as an indi- 
cation of friendship, but the chase luffed up and 
o])ened with grape from her stern guns. Satisfied 
that he was dealing with ;ni Englishman in disguise. 
Captain Snow began firing in earnest, and after five 
or six broa<lsides he brought the Spanish colors 
down. On sending a boat Jiboard it was found that 
(he stranger was, in truth, a Spaniard, being the 
jH-ivateer Xacra Con.stifHcion, a ship of three hundred 
tons, mounting six 24-])ounders and two 12-pounders 
and cMrrying a crew of twenty-five men. Assured of 
his mistake, C;i])t;iin Snow hastened to a])ologize and 
I'cleased the S])aniard. 

Three days later the Yankee gave (diase to a brig, 
wliicli, when the V(^ssels were within three miles of 
each other, was seen to be a war craft. Upon dis- 



272 PRIVATEERS OF RHODE ISLAND. 1813. 

coYoring; this, Captain Snow lianled close upon the 
wind, and notwithstandinii' the fact that the 
stranger showed American colors he de(dined tak- 
ing" chances and continued on his course, so that in 
a few hours he left her far bidnnd. On Auoust 20th 
the Yankee returned to port, havinii' captured twenty- 
two English vessels in her first three cruises, with- 
out the loss of a man on her part. 

Her fourth venture also Avas very successful. She 
sailed September 13, 1813, having Thomas Jones as 
her commander. Her first prizes were the brigs 
Anil, laden with rum, salt, and drygoods, for New- 
foundland, valued at forty thousand dollars, and the 
Mail/, having a cargo of salt, coal, and crockery, 
valued at twenty thousand dollars, which were sent 
into Chatham. Captain Jones also took the brigs 
J)isp(ilch and Tehiixichiis; the former having a cargo 
of drygoods and cutlery invoiced at forty thousand 
dollars, and the latter — whi(di was recaptured — with 
a <argo of rigging, coal, and provisions. The most 
valuable part of the TvJviiKichiis' cai'go had been 
transferred to tlu^ ])rivateer before she was ordered 
to iH)rt. 

After taking the brig rarorifc, whi(di was trans- 
formed into a cartel, and the S(dio<nier Kati/, which 
was sent into New liedford, Captain Jones met the 
bai-k raris, armed with ten guns and manned with 
a strong crew. The y<iiih(\s coui])l(Mnent had by 
this time been much reduced by drafts for manning 
her ])rizes, s(> that it recpiired a hot fight of thirty- 
five minutes before^ she could ])revail ui)on the Paris 
to surrender. The prize had a valuable cargo, which 
was transferred to the i)rivateer. The I\iris was 
i\nn\ mainuMl and ordered to an American port, but 
soon afterward she was reca])tured. All of these 
vess<ds had formed a part of a gnnit fleet of nier- 
( hantmen whi( h had sailed from Cork under the pro- 
tection of a strong force of war ships. They had 
become sei)arated by a storm, and the Yankee com- 



1813-1814. A $600,000 PRIZE. 27:^) 

iug- alono; just then matU^ easy capture of the stray 
ones. After takiiijT^ two more vess(4s of this fleet, 
the briji's John mtd Mail/ and the Hoiif, ('a])tain Jones 
made for home, arrivini;- forty-nine days after sail- 
injj^. The JoJiii and Mari/ was found to be lad<'n with 
shot and provisions wortli forty-nine thousand dol- 
hirs, wliile the lloin', beini;- (•om])arativ(dy of littU^ 
valne, was released and the prisoners placed in 
her and allowed to go. In this short cruise tlie 
YdHkcc made one hundred and eighty })i'isoncrs. 

Owing to the rigorous bhxdcade maintained by 
the British fleet off Kliode Island I he Yniil-cc did not 
get to sea again until May or June, IS] 4, when slu' 
again was un<l(n' the command of (''a})tain Elisha 
Snow. In this cruise of only a few weeks the Ydnlcic 
took four vesscds — the shi]> N/r Ifinjli '/ones, from Bel- 
fast for (}uadeloui)e, whi( h was divested of her valu- 
able cargo and ordered in; th<' ship Herri/ <'<islh\ of 
six guns, whi<di was reh^ised after ('ai>tain Snow 
had divested the vessel of her cargo of barilla and 
wine; the brig Marui Wu-iikiii, from Havana for Scot- 
land; and the ship Sun Josr fnd'uiiKi, from Liverpool 
for Rio Janeiro. The last v(^ssel was of enormous 
value, and on being taken into Portland the gross 
receipts from the sale of the shi]> and cai-go was 
nearly six hundred thousand dollars. The owners 
of the Yitnlxcc received as their share of the jn'otits 
nearly a (piarter of a million dollai-s, while not a 
boy in the YanJ:c(' got less than seven hundred dol- 
lai's. ('ai)tain Snow r(M-(4ved for his ]>ortion fifteen 
thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine dollars, 
while the negro waiters in the cabin, Cuffee ('o(dv- 
roach and Jack Jibsheet, received one thousand one 
hundred and tweiity-oiu' dollars an<l eighty-eight 
cents and seven hundred and thirty-(Mgli( dollars and 
nineteen cents, res])ectively. 

In her sixth and last cruise the Y(tnl;<c A\'as com- 
manded by William (\ Jenk(^s, until he was succeed(Ml 
by B. K. Churc hill, Jenkes losing one of his legs be- 



274 PRIVATEERS OF RHODE ISLAND. 1815, 

foiv the (Mul of the cruise. She saih^d October 1, 1814, 
;ui(l oil Jainiary 21, 1815, put into Beaufort, North 
Carolina, after a successful cruise, having' taken six 
vrssids — the brio's Ladji Prcrost, (Unirtiici/, and y^prcu- 
1(1 for; the shii)S aS7. And reus and (hiicnil Wcllcslcif, and 
a schooiKM- from Bermuda laden with flour. The 
S/><rii1<it()>\ which liad a car^o of jerked beef, was 
oiven up to the prisoners. The (Unniniji was taken 
into New Bedford, and on sale realized seventy thou- 
sand dollars. The (hncyuJ M'cllcsli'i/ was a splendid 
vess(d of six hundred tons, built in the strongest pos- 
sible manner of teak wood, newlv coppered, and 
fitted with all the imi>rovements then known. She 
carried an armament of sixteen onus and a crew 
of thirty-six Englishmen and fifty Lascars, and it 
was only after a runninji' fight of several hours that 
the Ydiilyc finally captured her. The prize was from 
London for Calcutta, and consequently was well 
stocked with misc(dlan(M)us ai'ticles, a jiart of her 
cargo consisting of eighteen tliousand bars of iron. 
As this ])rize was worth at least two humlred and 
fifty thousauil dollars, an unusually strong prize 
crew was placed aboard her under the orders of 
James jM. Blum, with instructions to make for 
Charleston, South Carolina. Unfortunatidy, while 
endeavoring to enter the harbor, the (iriicnil Wrllci^- 
Jvjj struck on the bar and became a total wreck — all 
of her original crew, besides two of th(^ Americans, 
])erishing. 

From these six cruises of the Ydiilcc it will be 
seen that her record was an unusual one. She had 
laken altogether nine shii»s, tAyenty-five brigs, fiye 
schooners, and one sloo]), making in all forty ves- 
sels ca]>tured from the liritish. She had seized or 
destr(>yed property to the value of five million dol- 
lars, and had sent into Brist(d alon<^ one million 
dollars' worth of goods. 

Ecjually successful and even more remarkable 
than the career of the Yauhc was that of the True 



1813. THE TRUE BLOODED YANKEE SAILS. 275 

Blooded Yaiilre. This vessel, altlioui^li fitted out in 
France, is entitled to a place anions" " those ' Yan- 
kees ' of llhode Island," inasmuch as she was fitted 
out by a Mr. Preble, a Khode Islander, then living 
in Paris, She was a French brii;-, carryinm' sixteen 
guns, and had been captured by the English and 
taken into their navy shortly before the war with 
the United States broke out. Afterwar<l she was 
recaptured by the French, from whom Mr. Preble 
purchas(Ml her and fitted her out as an American 
private(M'. Captain W. F. Wise, of the British frig- 
ate (h-(iiiictis, said of her, in a conversation with one 
of his i)risoners, the ca])tain of an American priva- 
teer: " She outsaile<l everything, and not one of our 
cruisers could toucdi her." 

The True Blooded Ydidre sailed from Brest, ^Nlarcli 
1,1813, under the command of Captain Hailey, and 
made directly for the Irish Channel. Her first prize 
was th(^ little coasting craft Margaret, in which Cap- 
tain Ilailey placed a prize master and six men, with 
orders to make for Morlaix. The peculiar dangers 
of privateering were well illustrated in the fate of 
this prize. It seems that Mr. Preble had some diftl- 
culty in getting together a sufficient number of men 
to fill out the comphunent of the True BJood(<l Yaiikei", 
as, being in a French port, American seamen were 
scarce, and recourse had to be taken to unusual 
means. By the connivance of tlu^ French autliori- 
tics the AnKU'icans were ]>ermitted to S(^arch 
through the })risons in the ho])e of inducing sailors to 
serve in the privattMM*. A number of men were thus 
secured, as they were glad to exchange their dreary 
confinement for a life full of adventure and ])ronnse 
of large financial rewards. Among thes(^ ])risoners 
was an Englishman mnned John Wiltshire, who had 
been in a I'reiudi dungeon three years. Hearing that 
an American ])rivateer was being fitted out, ht^ de- 
clared hims(df to be an American citizen, and ac- 
cording! v was released and allowed to enlist in the 



27(> PRIVATEERS OF RHODE ISLAND. 1818. 

'rnic liloodcd Ydiikcc. lie was oue of the iiieu detailed 
to act as a jvart of the prize crew of the Margaret. 
The M(tr(/ar<t had scarcely lost sii>lit of the priva- 
teer when she was recaptured by the British cutter 
Niiiii-()(l, and her ])rize crew made prisoners. Wilt- 
sliire was recognized as an English subject and was 
promptly hanged. 

Continuing his cruise along the coast of Ireland, 
(^aptain Hailey took prizes daily, and on one occa- 
sion he seized an island near the enemy's mainland 
and held it for six days, until he had made necessary 
r(q)airs, when he resumed his cruise. He returned to 
Brest in thirty-seven days, having in that time made 
two hundred and seventy prisoners and secured 
enormously valuable cargoes. Among the goods 
stowed in the hold of the T)nc Blooded Yaiil-ee were 
eighteen bales of Turkish carpets, forty-three bales 
of raw silk, (\V(Mi1y boxes of gum, twenty-four packs 
of beaver skins, (^tc., sliowing that every (juarter of 
the globe had contributed to the wealth of the pri- 
vateersmen. Sailing from h^rance again. Captain 
ITailey made a rapid circuit of Ireland and Scotland. 
He landed several times and held small towns for 
a ransom, and on one occasion he burned seven ves- 
sels in an Irish ixn-t. In May he had the audacity 
to run into the harbor of Dublin, where he sank 
a schooner that had (duded him the day before. 
Again returning to h"ranc(% the True Blooded Yankee 
disposed of \\eY i)rizes and their cargoes at great 
]>r(tfit. 

On September ?)0, 1S13, the following notice, 
copi(Ml from a Paris newspa])er, dated September 
25th, was p(»sted in Lloyd's Coffee House, London: 
'' The True lilooded Yaithe, American privateer, has 
been completely refitted for sea, manned with a crew 
of two hundred men, and sailed from Brest the 21st 
inst. supposed for the i)urpose of cruising in the 
British Channel. Uer orders are to sink, burn, and 
destroy, and not t<> capture with the intention of 



1812-1814. OTHER "YANKEES" OF RHODE ISLAND. 277 

(•urryiiii;' into port/' These orders were faithfully 
carried out, an imuieuse amount of damage beiuir 
intlicted on British eommeree at the hands of this 
" Yankee " scourge. It was on this eruise that the 
Truv Blooded Ymil-cc was finally captured, she having* 
at the time only thirty-two men out of her original 
comi)lement of two hundred, the rest having been 
drawn off to form prize crews for vesstds captured 
from the enemy. The privateer and her people were 
taken to (libraltar, where they were contined until 
the close of the war. In all the True Jiloodcd Yaiilrc 
took six shii)s and twenty-one smaller craft, one of 
her prizes being worth four hundred thousand 
dollars. 

Of the other " Yankees of IJliode Island," of which 
mention has been made, there remains little to re- 
cord. The Ydiil-ir L<is.s, a s( hoonei' of nine guns and 
eighty-five men, was commanded by Captain B. K. 
Churchill, who had served with distinction in the 
YaiiJiTc under Cajdain Jenkes. The Yaiil-cc Iaiss was 
captured at sea on her maiden cruise when only 
twenty days out, ^fay 1, 1S14, by the liritish frigate 
Scrcni. The Y(niJ:<'c A iiirricdii made a short cruise on 
the outbreak of hostilities und(n' Captain Stanwood. 
She was a S(diooner of seven guns and carried forty- 
four men. In her second venture, under Captain T. 
Pillsbury, she was captured October 24, 1812, when 
one month out, while off Sombrero lighthouse, 
by the sloop of war J*rriiri(iii. Of the Ydiikcf Porter 
little is known except that she Avas a sloo}) of 
two guns with thirty-five men, under the command 
of Cai)tain J. W(dden. Not one prize is credited 
to her. 

There were five otluM' privateers sent out from 
Tihode Island in this war, but they were small ves- 
sels carrying from one to three guns, and accom- 
plished nothing, save the W(rleririleJi, Ca])tain T. jMil- 
ton, whi(di seizcnl an American vessel laden with 
seven hundred barrels of flour intended for the 



n 



278 PRIVATEERS OP RHODE ISLAND. 1812-'814. 

eueiuy. The uames of the others are Ilinnii, Ihi,^- 
rc.s.s, Juno, aud Hirift. The (Jorvritor (rvrrij, a line brig 
of eighteen guns, was launched in fort^'-eight days 
after the laying of her keel, but did not get to sea 
in time to make a single prize. 



CHArTEK V. 



CAPTAIN THOMAS BOYLE. 



I'oK a privateei'smaii to inatcli his ship success- 
Cull v against a regular war vessel is sufticient dis- 
liuction ill itself to mark her (-(tiuuiander as a uiau 
of extraordinary daring. To be twice successful in 
such an encounter is reniarkabU^ even for the coni- 
iiian(h'r of an American private armed ci-afl. A 
number of our privateersmen have won this distinc- 
tion; but few have (Mjualed, in this particular, the 
success of Ca])tain Thomas Boyle. lie had the en- 
viabh' lienor of twice worsting a cruiser and of sev- 
ei-al times putting u]) a good defense against govern- 
ment war craft. Even in the liglit of the proverbial 
daring of American ])rivateersmen, Captain Boyle's 
carcM'r in the War of 1S12 was extraordinary and 
well worthy of extend(Ml notice. lie has been de- 
scribed, by one who kncMV him well, as being a (piiet, 
unassuming man, who said little but did nundi; 
"always annoying the enemy wherever he chanced 
to steer, som<4imes on the coasts of Spain and Por- 
tugal, and, anon, in the British and Irish Chainuds, 
cari'ving dismay and tei*ror to British trad(^ and com- 
merce, in defiance of their fleetest frigates and sIooi»s 
of war, which strove again and again to capture 
him, but never w<M'e able. He ajipeared fi'ecpiently 
to tantalize and vex t hem as if for mere sport, and at 
the same time convince them that h(^ could out- 
ma neiiver and outsail them in any trial of seaman- 
ship."' 

270 



280 CAPTAIN THOMAS BOYLE. 1812. 

AMipii this commander put to sea, early in the 
war, he kne\Y that lie might be called n]3on to defend 
his sliip against the attacks of British cruisers, but 
he (lid not count upon the interference of other for- 
eign naval i)owers. Our regular cruisers sometimes 
experienced the covert sympathy of Spanish and 
rortugu{\se officials at the several ports in which 
they were compelled to enter, and, as will be seen, 
our i>rivateers, on one (u-casion at least, felt the full 
force of tlK-ir broadsides. Captain Boyle began his 
extraordinary career in this war in the privateer 
CoiHcl, of lialtimore. Several of our privateers had 
boi'ue this name in the struggle for independence, 
and had met with considerable success, so it is not 
surjirising that we find one of the most successful 
jn-ivatc ai-nied craft in the second war with Great 
Britain bearing this lucky name. Before hostilities 
broke out this vesscd, a stanch schooncu*, had been 
engaged in the mercdiant service, and, like all mer- 
chantmen of her (dass in those troublous times, she 
had been constructed quite as much with a view to 
s]»eed and fighting as stowing away cargo. The 
(/oiiicf had been selected for the privateer service 
because of her s])lendid sailing qualities and her 
ability to carry a heavy armament. 

In hov first cruise, which began in July, 1812, she 
had a des])erate engagement with tlie British mer- 
chantman I/oprinU, a ship of four hundred tons, 
carrying fourteen guns and a crew of twenty-five 
nuMi. She was from Surinam bound for London, 
laden with seven hundi'iMl and ten hogsheads of 
sugar, fifty-four hogsheads of molasses, one hundred 
and eleven bales of cotton, and two liundred and 
sixty bags and casks of coffee and cocoa — a prize well 
worth fighting for. The vessels quickly came to 
close (pmrters, and the English surrendered only 
after one of their number had been killed and six 
wounded — nearly a third of the crew. The Hopeirell, 
with her cargo, was valued at one hundred and fifty 



1813. PRECAUTIONS OF THE ADMIRALTY. <-2^l 

tlionsand dollars. She had been one of a squadron 
of five vessels that had left Snrinani, the Ilopcndl 
having become s(^parated from her consorts two 
days before her captnre. Another of the Coiiicf.^ 
valnable prizes was the ship Henri/, of fonr hnndred 
tons, co]>})ered to the bends and monnting four 12- 
pounders and six G-ponndei's. She was from St. 
Croix bonnd for London, and had on board sev(m 
hnndred hogsheads of sngar and thirteen ])i])es of 
old Madeira Avine, the vess(d and <-ar<;<> netting hov 
captors more than one hnndred tlionsand dollai's. 
The Coiiict also took the shi]> JoJiii, of fonr hnndred 
tons, carrying fourteen guns and a crew of thirty- 
live men, from Demerara for Liverpo(d. She was 
laih'n with cotton, sugar, rnni, ami coffee, besides 
a large quantity of old copper and dyewood, the en- 
tire cargo and vesscd being worth at least one hun- 
dred and fifty thousand dollars — fifty thousand dol- 
lars of which went into the Treasury of the United 
States in the form of bounty. 

Tn one of his prizes Captain lioyle found a copy 
of " Kecommendations by their Loi'dships of the Ad- 
miralty," whi(di shows what extraordinary measures 
were res(»rted to by the English to check the dread- 
ful ravages wrought by American cruisers and pri- 
valei'i's on British commerce: ''The Lords Commis- 
sioners of the Admiralty re^'ommend that all mas- 
ters of !'ier(diant vessels do supply themselves with 
a (piantity of false fires, to give the alarm on the 
a])]>roach of an enemy's cruiser in the night, or in 
the day io make the usual signals for an enemy 
being cliased by or discovering a suspicious vessel; 
and, in I lie event of their capture being inevitable, 
either by night or by day, the mastei'S do cause their 
gears, ti-usses, and halyai-ds to be cut and unrove, 
and their vess(d to be otherwise so disabled as to 
])revent their being immediately capable of making 
sail.'' 

The (Uniicl returned from her first cruise in No- 

21 



2S2 CAPTAIN THOMAS BOYLE. 1812-1813. 

vember, 1812, and hasty preparations were made to 
refit and get her to sea again, A strong force of 
British war ships bhu-ked Cliesapeake Bay so com- 
pletely that it was some weeks before Captain Boyle 
ventured to rnn the gantlet. The night of Decem- 
ber 2;?, 1812, coming on dark and boisterous. Cap- 
tain Boyh^ (juietly ])assed the word round that the 
attem])t would be made that evening. Accordingly, 
soon after dark, the scdiooner slipped her moorings 
and sped rapidly down the bay. F(»r several hours 
it seemed as if the venture would be entirely suc- 
cessful, for no trace of a British war craft was to be 
found, but shortly before daylight the Comet re- 
ceived a broadside from a frigate which the thick 
weather had concealed from view. Little or no at- 
tention was inud to this, and the privateer slipped 
out to sea with only a little rigging damaged and 
one spar hurt. The last was soon fished, and with 
repaired rigging the (Umict headed south, and in two 
weeks was oft' Cape St. Kcxpie, and on Januai\y 1), 
1813, appeared oft' Pernambuco. 

On that day Captain Boyle spoke a trading vessel 
just out of the port, and learned that in a few days 
some English vessels were about to sail, with valu- 
able cargoes. This determined him to hover in that 
vicinity and make a dash for ])rizes. On the 11th he 
s])oke llie Poi'tuguese brig Wnsa, from St. Micdiael 
for rernambuco, and then stood on and off shore, 
maintaining a careful wat(di for any indication of the 
vesscds leaving the harbor. At one o'clock on the af- 
ternoon of January 11th his vigilance was rewarded 
by the discov(^ry of four sails standing out of the 
harbor. They proved to be a ship and three brigs. 
Instead of making directly for them, the privateer 
stood away so as to give them an opportunity to 
get an offing where it would be easier to cut them 
out. 

I>y thr(M^ o'( lo( k the vessels were upon the wind, 
standing southeast about thirty-six miles from land. 



1813. BATTLE WITH A PORTUGUESE CRUISER. 288 

This was the time for the privateer to strike, and, 
bearing np, she made all sail in chase. Bj live o'clock 
the splendid sailing qualities of the American 
schooner had enabled her to draw up on the enemy 
very fast, and by six o'clock their lead had so de- 
creased that Captain Boyle was able to make them 
out clearly. But just about this time the fourth 
sail was discovered to be a large man-of-war brig. 
Tliis was an unexpected result of the chase; for Cap- 
tain Boyle had been informed, through reliable 
sources, that no English war craft was in port, so 
that when he saw four instead of three sails com- 
ing out he su]>posed that another nuM'chant vessel 
had joined the squadron, which would only make his 
capture the more valuable. The announcement that 
the fourth vessel was a heavy war brig soiiKnvhat 
disconcerted his plan of action, which was to close 
on the merchantmen under cover of night aiul take 
them one after another. Captain Boyle, however, 
was not a man to be frightened off by a few cannon, 
and although he was aware that the merchantmen 
were well armed, and were capable of giving the war 
brig material assistance, he called all hands, cleared 
the decks for action, and, loading his cannon with 
round and grape shot, boldly stood for the cruiser. 

By seven o'clo(dv the Coiuvt had gained a position 
close abeam the brig when the American colors were 
Iioisted. The brig responded witli Portuguese colors, 
ami her commander hailed and said that he would 
send a boat aboard. Anxious to discover if the 
stranger really were a Portuguese, and, if such, what 
lier obj(M-t could be in sailing as an escort to English 
merchantmen. Captain Boyle hove to. Soon a boat 
])ut off from the side of the brig and came along- 
side the CoHicf, and an officer, dressed in Portuguese 
uniform, ste])ped aboard. He reported that the brig 
was a regular war shi]) of the PortugiU'se Covcru- 
ment, carrying a crew of one huudi-ed and sixty-five 
men and mounting twenty 32-pounders — doubtless 



284 CAPTAIN THOMAS BOYLE. 1813. 

an exaggeration made to intimidate tlie privateers- 
men. The Comet carried fonrteen guns, and had a 
crew of abont one hundred and twenty men. The 
officer furthermore said that the three vessels in the 
brig's company were English, and, being under the 
protection of the brig, must not be molested by the 
privateer, ("aptain Boyle replied that his ship was 
an American cruiser, and as such he had a right to at- 
tack the English vessels, and that if the Portuguese 
attempted to interfere the Comet would open with 
her guns. In order that there should be no misunder- 
standing in the case. Captain Boyle insisted upon the 
officer seeing his papers from the American Govern- 
ment authorizing the Comet to capture English ves- 
sels. Captain Boyle then informed the officer that 
the ])rivateer would capture the merchantmen if she 
could; that tlie^^ were upon the high seas, the com- 
mon highway of all nations; that the Portuguese 
brig had no right to interfere, and that the oc(niu, 
of right, b(d(»nged to America as much as any other 
power in the world. To this tln^ Portuguese replied 
that he would be sorry if anything disagreeable took 
place; that his brig had received orders to protect 
the merchant vessels, and Avould do so at any hazard. 
Captain l>oyle sai<l that he also would keenly regret 
if " anything disagreeable " took place between his 
vessel and the brig, but that if the latter became 
the aggressor he would ])romptly lire into her before 
leaving. The officer remarked that the mer(diant 
vessels were well armed and strongly manned, and 
would su])])ort the brig in case of battl<% to which 
The American commander replied that he valued 
tluMr strength very littl(% but would soon give them 
all the opportunity they wanted to test it. 

The l*ortuguese then ri^turned to his brig so as 
to give the result of his interview Avith Captain 
Boyle to his commander. Before he left the Comet 
he promised to return shortly. After waiting in 
vain some time for the boat to report, Captain Boyle 



1813. BATTLE WITH A PORTUGUESE CRUISER. 285 

.si)()lvO tlie PortunTiose, askiii*i' if they intended send- 
inin' their boat bad-:, to which tliey replicMl that they 
wonld speak tlie convoy first, and that, in the mean- 
time, the Portnjinese commander wonld be nimdi 
obliged if (''ai)taiu Boyle wonld send his boat aboard. 
Entertaining' some donbt as to the sincerity of this 
reqnest, Cai)tain I*>oyle rtqilied that he did not make 
a })ractice of sending his boat away at night, and 
wonld not do so in this case. lie then avowed his 
determination of attaidcing the English vessels at 
once. He said this with such distinctness as to leave 
no (diance for him to be misunderstood. The Coiiict 
a<-cordingly began to forge ahead, and in a short 
time came up with the ship and ordered her peo])le 
to back their main topsail. Having too mnch head- 
way Captain Boyle drew ahead of the ship, but find- 
ing that little or no attention was paid to his order 
he shonted that he wonld be alongside again in a 
few minntes, and if by that time his order were not 
obey(Ml he wonld ponr a broadside into them. 

Trne to his word, Captain Boyle a few minntes 
later, or at abont half past eight, tacked, with the 
Tortnguese man-of-war close after him, and ran 
alongside the shij*. ]>y that time one of the mer- 
chant brigs also was (dose to the ship, and the Coiiwt 
opened fire on both of them. All the vessels at the 
time were carrying a press of sail, bnt the ])rivateer, 
from her superior sailing (pialities, was obliged to 
ta( k frequently in order to keej) her place at (dose 
(piarters. About this time th(^ Portuguese man-of- 
war o]>ened fire with round and gra]>(^ shot, to whiidi 
the ('(hiicI re])lied with her long torn and broadside 
guns. Tlu^ bright moonlight enabled the gunners 
to take good aim; but in a short time smdi volumes 
of smoke collected around the vessels that it was 
diflicult to distinguish one vessel from another. 
This Mas a circumstance that operated greatly in 
favor of the Americans, for th(\v were sure of hitting 
an enemy no matter which vessel their shot struck, 



286 CAPTAIN THOMAS BOYLE. 181:5. 

while the Eiii;lisli and rortnguese soon became con- 
fused by the smoke, and were unable to distinguisli 
between friend and foe. 

Caring nothing about the Portuguese except to 
keep him at a distance, Captain Boyle tenaciously 
held a position close to the British merchantmen 
and kept u]) a heavy fire on them. The English ves- 
sels <K-casi<nially separated, so as to give the man- 
of-war a <diance at the Americans, but the gunnery 
of the ]*ortugues(^ was so bad that little damage was 
occasion«Ml by it. In this way the battle was main- 
tained until a little after midnight, wIkmi a voice 
from the slii]) was heard announcing that they had 
surrendered, as their V(^ssel was cut to pi(M-es and 
unmanag<'abl(\ Shortly after\var<T the mercdiant brig 
also surrendered, being much cut U]». P>ut as Cap- 
tain Boyle was ab(Hit to take ])ossession of the latter 
the lN»rtuguese man-of-war tired a broadside which 
came near sinking the boat in whi(di the boarding 
l)arty was ])roce(Mling to the ]>rize and compelle<l it 
to r(4urn to the (Unitcl. Ca])tain l>oyle tluMi devoted 
all his attention to the man-of-war, and after some 
heavy tiring induced her to sIkm^' ofl*, the privateer 
following and cai>turing the third English vessel, 
which, like its consorts, was badly cut uj). 

lint the victory of the Americans was still far 
from being assure<l; for the I'ortuguese, although 
driven away, persisted in remaining within gunshot, 
and threatened to come to close action at the first 
<>pl)ortunity. I-'ully aware of his danger, Captain 
Boyle hastened to take ])()Ssession of his second 
l)rize, the merchant brig, but in doing so passed the 
ship and ordered hei- command^' to follow. The 
Englishmen then called out that their ship was in 
a sinking condition, having many shot holes between 
wind and water and with nearly all their rigging 
cut away. They intimated, howcnei*, that they 
would carry out the order with all possible dis])at(di. 
At half past one in the morning the Americans took 



1818. BATTLE WITH A PORTUGUESE CRUISER. 287 

possession (►f the iiierclumt brii;- and placed a prize 
crew aboard. The Portugueses however, foHowed 
the Comet (dosely, eiideavoriui;' to prevent her from 
securiuii' the other vessels. This compelhMl (''a])tain 
Boyle to tire an occasional broadside at the cruiser, 
so as to keep them at a more respectful distance. At 
one time they tired into the brii;' held by the Ameri- 
cans, but could not induce the prize crew to sur- 
n^nder. 

By two o'(do(dv the moon was down, and, as tln^ 
weather blew up squally, ('a])taiu Boyle became 
sei)arated from his prizes. Tlu^ Portu<2,uese man-of- 
war at that time was standinu,- southward in the 
direction of tlu^ prize bri*»' and ship and was soon 
lost to view. Captain Boyle now deemed it prudent 
to remain until daylii»'ht by his prize, whi(di proved to 
be the briii,' Jioircx. T^rom the master of this ves- 
sel it was learned that tlu^ other vessels of the con- 
voy were laden with wlieat. 

l*'oi' the remainder of the night the (Utiiicl kept 
near her j)rize, and as day began to dawn the Por- 
tuguese man-of-war was <liscov(Mvd l)earing down 
on her. The ])riva<eei- ]>rom])tly hove about and 
stood for lun', when the war brig tacdvod an<l made 
signals f(»r the convoy to make for the tirst ])ort. 
Observing that the English slii]> and second brig 
seemed to Im' in a very distressed condition, ('a])tain 
]>oy]e determined not to take possession of them, 
but to wat(di tlijC'ii' maneuver's. P»oth of them bore 
u]) before the wind, making for land in com])any with 
the man-of-war, the last a])i)earing to be much dam- 
aged. The Americans followed the three crii)i)led 
shi])S, and could see that extraordinary exertions 
were being made to keep the shi]) and tlu^ brig alloat. 
\<'\{\\ great difticulty the tlire(> vessids gained the 
harbor of Pi^'nambuco; tlie shi]), whicdi ])rov(Ml to 
be the ^/rore/r, ('a])tain AMlson, of Liverpool, with 
liei- masts tottering and her cai*go destroyed so that 
she had to be dismantled; and the brig, the (iainhlu, 



288 CAPTAIN THOMAS BOYLE. 181S. 

Captain i^iuitli, of Hull, in niucli the same plight. 
The man-of-war was seriously damaged, besides liav- 
inf^' lier first lieutenant and live men killed and a 
number wounded. Anioui:,' the latter was her com- 
mander, who had his thigh shattered by a cannon 
ball and died shortly after reaching Pernambuco. 
Several American gentlemen, a few months after 
this action, happened to be in Lisbon when this man- 
of-war brig was there. They visited her, and re- 
I)orted that she was " a very large vessel, with high 
bulwarks and a very formidable battery.'' 

Scarcely had the Portuguese gained the harbor 
of Pernambuco with her crippled convoy when Cap- 
tain Boyle, with his rich prize, was again scouring 
the high seas in search of British merchantmen. He 
soon had the good fortune to seize the Scotcdi ship 
Add phi, of Aberdeen, of thirty-six tons, from Liver- 
pool l)ound for Baliia. She was laden with salt and 
drygoods, and, although W(dl manned and armed 
with eiglit long 12-pounders, her commander made 
no serious resistance. The prize was manned and 
ordered to the United States. Subsequently the 
Comet was chased by the British frigate l>!iirpr}fie, 
whi(di was justly regarded as being one of the swift- 
est vess(ds on the station. By superior seauianship 
Captain lioyle effected his escape and c(nitinued his 
successful cruise in the West Indies. 

At daylight I'\d)ruary (>, 181:*, while some twelve 
miles off the island of St. John's Captain Boyle dis- 
covered tw(> brigs to leeward and made all sail in 
chase of them. The nearest ci-aft was soon made out 
to be armed, and Captain Boyh^ sent his men to 
quarters. By six o'clock this brig hoisted English 
colors, tir(Ml a gun, but, < deserving that she was in 
the ])resence of a vesscd of superior force, ])rom])t- 
ly haul(Ml down her flag. She was the Ah'.tis, of 
(h'e(Mio(k, from Demerara, laden with sugar, rum, 
cotton, and coffee. Placing a ^\v. Ball and six men 
aboard, and receiving most of the prisontM-s in the 



A FUTILE TRICK. 289 

ai)tain Eoylo ordercnl lier to the United 

id made sail for the secoud brig. By eij^^ht 

third brig, apparently a war ship, was dis- 

aiiding to the southeast. From his prisou- 

,,, u Boyle learned that these vessels were 

V (;t a convoy of nine sail that had left Deme- 

x\ Thomas some days before, and that most 

'■'■■ ,-. .,, ,>;1 got into i)ort tlie preceding night, but 

liiiif the U' in-of-war tlien in sight, and named the 

> „././f/T>-, with two brigs, had failed to mak(^ the 

harbor. 

Learning this, (''ai)tain Boyle prepared to give the 
brig he had been chasing a broadside as he passed 
her, hoping to compel Iwv to surrender before the 
man-of-war could aid her. At nine o'clo(dc the (Umid 
showed her colors, and being nearly up with the 
chase received the enemy's fire, which was promptly 
returned. The effect of this was to induce tlie Eng- 
lishmen to surrender, but before the Americans 
could \i:vi aboard the British master, in pursuance 
with the "recommendations" of the Admiralty, al- 
ready noted, caused liis topsail and jib Imlyards and 
other rigging to be cut away, in addition to tlie dam- 
age done by the American shot — whi(di was consid- 
erable — hoping thereby so to cri]>ple his shii) that it 
would be impossible for th<^ Americans to get her 
under suhicient sail to escape the man-of-war. 

Captain Boylo saw the trick, and prom])tly S(Mit 
IMrst Officer Cashell and several men aboai'<l to 
tak<' ])ossession ami re])air damages as ra]»idly as 
possible. ^Meantime most of the prisoners w<'r(' S(Mit 
aboai-d the Coiitct and secured below. All tliis time 
the man-of-war was ra])idly ap])roa(diing, and, her 
I'igging and decks full of men, could be made out dis- 
tinctly. S(Hdng that he must (4ther run or hght a 
vastly superior force, Ca^itain Boyle sent ^\v. (iil])in 
and seven nu^i to aid .Mr. Casludl, ordering them to 
get up what sail they could, and make their way 
through the ])assage between the islands of St. 



290 CAPTAIN THOxAIAS BOYLE. 1813. 

John's and St. Thomas. Mr. ('ashe^l folloAved ont the 
order as well as he conld, while the Coiiicf advanced 
toward the Sir(i(/(/(irr as if to offer battle. Not that 
Captain Bovle intended to make his ship an easy prey 
for the crniser, for he fnlly realized that he was in 
the presence of hopeless odds, bnt he hopcMl to divert 
the enemy's attention from his prize t<> himself, and 
then trnst to his skill and seamanshii) to escape. 
The reason for thns exposinjj,- his own vessel to cap- 
tnre was becanse thc^ ])rize had an nnnsnally valu- 
able carii'o. She was the packet Doiiiuiicd, of Liver- 
pool, from Demerara bound for St. Thomas, and was 
laden with rum, sn.i'ar, cotton, and coff'ee. 

Captain Boyle allowed the ^'^ir(i(/(/cirr to come 
within lonji;- ounshot of the (Uniict, when he put his 
vessel throuii'li a series of maneuvers, with a view to 
test the relative spcM'd of the tAvo vess(ds. Findini;- 
that he could easily outpoint and outsail the Euil;- 
lishman, he be!:;an to tantalize the Sirdf/i/crcr by sail- 
in.i;- under her nose, " at lon«;' balls," and temptin<2: 
her into the continuance of a hopeless chase, during- 
which time th(^ Doiniiiira was makiuii" the best of 
her way throuiih the passaju'e. Ca])tain Boyle kept 
up jliese tactics until about noon, when, seeini;' that 
his ]>rize was at a safe distanc<\ he headed the lUnnet 
northward so as to pass roun<l to the windwar<l of 
St. John's, tlie Strdf/f/crcr still in hot pursuit. 

liy two o'clock in the afternoon the Cotiui had so 
increased her lead that she was fully four miles to 
windward of the enemy, and no one aboard the pri- 
vateer felt the least alarm for the safety of the 
schooner. At that monuMit a sail was reported on 
the weather bow, and an hour later it was seen to be 
a schooner runninii' before the wind. Chanuiuii; his 
<'ourse a little, Ca]»tain Boyle ran alonj;sid(% and, 
after tiriuin' several musket shots, induced the 
stranii'er to surrc^nder. She was found to be the 
schooner ./a^/r, from Demerara to St. Thomas, laden 
with rum, sui^ar, and coffee. IMeantime, the Hhik/- 



1813-1814. THE SWAGGERER'S HUMOROUS CHASE. 291 

f/crcr had been tumblinc^ alonii', far in the rear 
of the swift Comet, in a hopeless effort to over- 
take her. Her lumberino* efforts to reach the swift 
]>rivateer only afforded amnseinent for onr ofticers, 
and after coolly transferring the prisoners to his 
own ship and placin«>' Prize-Master Wild and six men 
aboard the Jaite, with instrnctions to li'o thronmh 
the i)assa<;e between Tortola and St. John's, Cap- 
tain IJovle leisnrely resnmed his conrse and soon 
ran his enraiied pnrsner ont of sioht. 

Findini;- that he was overburdened with ])rison- 
ers Captain l)oyle made for the United States, and 
on .Mar( h 17th, in spite of the vii;ilaiice of the British 
bhxdvading scpiadron, gained Chesapeake Ray and 
arrived in Baltimore. Some of the other ])rizes 
taken by the Coiiwf were the stdiooner Mcsscik/c); from 
the West Indies, laden with rnm and molasses, which 
was sent into Wilmington, North Carolina, and the 
VlijUitiit, a tender to tlu^ British admiral of the Wind- 
ward Island squadron, whi(di also was sent into Wil- 
mington. Nine of the vesstds taken by the (Unnct 
were divested of their most valuable articles and 
sunk, as tliere was too much risk in attem]>ting to 
send theiu into port. The (UdiivI, in 1814, had a fierce 
action with the 22-gun shi]) IllhcniUi, of eight liun- 
drcMl tons, having (»n board a large com]>lement of 
<»ft1c<M's and men. After a running tight lasting 
eiglit hours the lOnglishman esca])(Ml, having sus- 
tained a loss of eight men killed and thirteen 
wounded to three nuMi killed an<l sixteen wounded 
on tlie ])art of the Americans. The (Uniiii put into 
lN»i'to Kico for r(q>airs where she found one of her 
prizes. Being short of provisions her ])rize master 
asked foi- a su])ply. Instead of granting tlie request, 
the local autliorities seized her and gave hei' to the 
British. In all, the (Unnct is credited with tAventy- 
se\-en ]»rizes. 

So great had been the success of Captain Boyh* 
in tlie ('<»ii(i that soon after his return from his last 



292 CAPTAIN THOMAS BOYLE. 1813-1814. 

ci'iiiso ho was j^laccd in coniinand of the formidable 
privateer (lidssciir, in whicdi craft he acdiieved his 
♦greatest renown. Tins vessel ])robaVdy was one of 
the best eqnii)i)ed and manned i)rivateers that sailed 
in this war. She Avas familiarly called the Pride 
of li<ilti)ii())-(\ monntinn' sixteen lonis; 12-ponnders and 
nsnally carryin<i' a complement of one hundred offi- 
cers, seamen, and marines. Speaking of her sail- 
ing (jnalities a Baltimore paper said: "She is, per- 
haps, tiie most beantifnl vess(d that ever floated on 
the ocean. Tliose who have not seen onr scdiooners 
have but little idea of her appearance. As yon look 
at her yon may easily fignre to yourself the idea that 
she is almost about to rise out of the water and fly 
into the air, seeming to sit so lightly. She has carried 
terror and alarm throughout the West Indies, as ap- 
pears by nuuu^rous extracts from the West Indian 
l)apers received I)y her. She was frecjuently chased 
by Rritish vesscds s<'nt out on jnirpose to catch her. 
She was once ])retty hard run by the frigate Bdrcosa; 
but sometimes, out of sheen- wantonness, she affected 
to chase the enemy's men-of-war of far superior 
force." 

In his fii-st cruise in this formidable vessel Cap- 
tain lioyle cai)tured eighteen meiM hantmen, nearly 
all of them <d' great value. Some of these were the 
slooj) (lirislidiKi, of Kilkade, Scotland; the brig ficiii- 
(Jcc)-, of Aberdeen; scdiooner Furo^'itv, laden with 
wine; the brig Marquis of (^orinrdllis-, the brigs Alert 
and Ihrruioiii/, from Newfoundland; the ship C(irl- 
hiiri/, of London, from Jamaica, lad(Mi with cotton, 
cocoa, hides, indigo, etc. (the goods taken from this 
vesscd were valued at fifty thousand dollars); the 
brigs Eclipse, (Uniniicrcc, and Aitfclopc; the schooner 
Fo.r; the shi]>s Jdiiics and llicodorc; and the brigs 
Alhnilic and Amicus. The (liassciir brought into port 
forty-thre(^ ]n'isoners, having reh^ised on parole one 
huiulred and fifty. 

Captain Boyle's favorite cruising ground Avas in 



1814. "SUPERB AUDACITY." 25)3 

flic British Clianiiel and around the coasts of (Ircat 
]>i'itain. lie seemed to act on the principU' which 
led Farraiiut to ininiovtal fame lialf a centnry later, 
namely: "The nearer yon i^et to yonr enemy the 
harder yon can strike." By thns '' bearding the lion 
in his den " the VJKissciir had some exceedingly nar- 
row escai)es, bnt always elnded the enemy by her 
tine sailing (jnalities and by the snperb andacity of 
her commander. At one time the private(n' was 
so near a British frigate as to exchange an effective 
broadside with her, and not long afterward she was 
conii)letely snrronnded by two frigates ami two 
brigs of war. In making a dash to escape, the (lias- 
snir received a shot from one of the frigates, whicdi 
wonnded three men, bnt in spite of the danger she 
finally elnded the enemy. 

The "• sn])erb andacity" of Captain Boyle has 
already been mentioned, not that it was peculiar to 
him, for it was share<l more or less by all onr priva- 
feersmen, but because it was exhibited by him on 
fliis cruise in a unique and emphatic manner. It 
had be<Mi the custom of British admirals on the 
American stations to issue " paper blo(d<:ades," de- 
(daring the (^nfire coast of the TTnited States to be 
blockaded. Several of these " paper blocdvades '' 
had be«Mi r(M*eiitly issued by Admiral Sir John Bor- 
laise Warren and by Admiral Sir Alexander Coch- 
rane. On the strength of these foolish ])i'oc]ama- 
fions British ci'uis<'rs were withdi'awn, at will, from 
the ])orts blocdcaded and transferred to other points 
along the coast without — at least in the estimation 
«>f the English admirals — in the least invalidating 
j he blockade. To show the absurdity of these prixda- 
iiia lions, Ca])tain Boyle, while cruising in the Eng- 
lish Cliann(d, sent by a cartel to London the follow- 
ing i)roclamatiou, whi(di he "requested" to be 
l)osle<l in Lloyd's Coffee Ilouse: 



294 CAPTAIN THOMAS BOYLE. 1814. 



" 7>// Tlioiiias Ji<)i/](\ Usi/iiirc, ('ohiiikiikIc)- of llic l*r'natc 
A)iii<d lirlij (lidssciir, vie. 

" riiorLAMATiON: 

'^ WJi<)-((i.s, It lias bcconio ciistoinavy witli the ad- 
mirals of (ii*(Nit liritaiii, coimiiaiKlini;' small forces 
on the coast of the TTiiitiMl States, particnlarly with 
Sir John I^orlaise AVarrcn and Sir Alexander Coch- 
rane, to declar(^ all the coast of the said United 
States in a state of strict and i-iiiorons blockade 
without ])oss('ssin:Li,' the ])ower to jnstify snch a detda- 
ration or stationini; an ade<inate force to maintain 
said l)lo( l<ade; 

" I do therefore, by virtne of the power and an- 
thoritv in m<^ vested (])ossessin^- sntticient force), de- 
(dare all tln^ ]M)ris, hai'bors, bays, ci'ecdvs, rivers, in- 
lets, outlets, islands, and seacoast of tlic United 
Kinji'dom of (ireat Britain and Ireland in a state of 
strict and rigorous blocdvade. 

" And T do fnrther (leidare that I consider the 
force nmh'r my <-ommand adequate to maintain 
strictly, rigorously, and effectually the said blo(dv- 
ade. 

" And I do hereby rc^quire the respective officers, 
whether captains, commanders, or commandini^ 
officers, under my command, employed or to be em- 
])loyed, on the coasts of Enju'land, Ireland, and Scot- 
land, to i)ay strict attention to the execution of this 
my proclamation. 

" And I do hcr(d)y caution and forbid the ships 
and vcss(ds of all and every nation in amity and 
])cacc with the T'nited States from cnterini;' or at- 
tem])tin*i- to enter, or from coming' or attemjdiui;' 
to come out of, any of the said ]iorts, hai-bors, bays, 
creidvS, i-ivers, inlets, outlets, islands, or seacoast 
und(M' any pretense wliatsoever. And that no per- 
son may plead ignorance of this, my proclamation, 






1814-1815. WAIL OP ST. VINCENT MERCHANTS. 21)5 

I liave ordoivd tlio same to bo made public in Eno- 
land. (Jiveii under my band on board tbe (lidssciir. 

" ThOxMas Boyle. 
" ]iy command of tbe commandinii' offic<'i'. 
'' J. J. Staxbuky, Hccirtdi-j/.'' 

(]nite in keepinji- witli Captain Bo^de's aiubicitv 
is tbe memorial presc^ited bv tbe mei'(dian1s of St. 
A'incent to Admiral Dnrbam, in wbicdi it is siate<l 
tbat tbe ('iKissciir bad bbxdvaded tliem for live days, 
doini; mm b (bimai^e, an<l requesting tbat tbe admiral 
would sent tbeni at least " a beavy sloop of war." 
Tbe frii^ate Ihircosti was sent. Tbe memorial i^ave 
a pitiful account of bow tbe (Itasscur was fi'e(|nently 
(diased '' in vain," at one time by tbree cruisers to- 
ilet bei*. It tbeii quotes a bdter from ^Iartiid<iue 
statini;- tbat tbis v<^ss(d was permitted to sui>]dy ber- 
S(df witb a new boom, tbat tbe ca]>tain was treated 
vei-y jtolitely, tbat on Sunday be <lined witb ^\. I)u 
])Uc, tbe Fren(di intendant at tbe island, " a tine com- 
])anion, truly, for tbe i^ovcM-nor of su(di a ccdony as 
^Iartini(iue." Tbe memoi-ial furtber «-omplained tbat 
tbe Clidssriir ventured wit bin iminsbot (d' tbe f(>rts 
of St. Tjicia to cut out tbe trans]>ort Loid I'Jdoii, and 
])r()bably A\'ould ba^'e (b)ne it but for tbe sloo]» oi' war 
WolrcriiK', wbi(di bove in si_iibt; tbat tbe (iHi.ssciir 
burned tAVO sloo]»s " in tbe face of tbe island " — 
pctssibly a West Indian form <»f tbe expi-ession 
" uiubM- tbeir noses" ; tbat sbe boisted tbe ^'ankee 
stri])es over tbe I>i'itisb ensiiiu "and ])layed many 
cui-ions pranks " ; and otlier com])laints in tbe same 
tenoi'. Tbe (iKissciir arrived in New Yoi'k fi-oiii licr 
Euro]»ean cruise in ()ct(dier, 1814. 

It was in bis last cruise in tbis war tbat ('a])tain 
Boyle gained bis greatest re])utation for (biring and 
success on tbe bigb seas. On Februai'v 2(1, ISIf), 
wben Ibe ('lidssciir was about tbirty-six miles to 
windward of Havana and some twelve miles from 
land, a scbooner was dis<'Overed, about eleven 



20() CAPTAIN THOMAS BOYLE. 1815. 

o'clock ill llio morniiiii', to tho northeast, apparently 
rimnint^' before the wind. This was the English war 
schooner SI. Lairrciicc, Lientonant Henry Crannier 
(Jordoii, which, as we remember, was the American 
privateer Alias, Captain ])avi<l ^[afifitt, captured by 
boats from Rear- Admiral Cockburn's scpiadron in 
Ocracoke Inlet, Jnly 12, 1813,i the Alias havino- been 
taken into the British service under the new name. 
The /S7. L<iirrcncc proved to be a valuable addition 
to the enemy's fleet, taking an active part in their 
many exix'ditions aloni;- the coast and acting' as a 
dispatch boat, in whi<'h service her fine sailing quali- 
ties gave her every advantage. Here we have an ad- 
mirable o])]»ortunity to com])are the ridative merits 
of American and IJritish man-of-warsmen; for the 
*S7. /jdirrfiicr, being liuilt and (Mjuipped by Americans, 
deprives onr friends, the English, of their oft-re- 
pinited cry Ihat onr vessels were better built, etc. 
The Cliassciir carried fourteen guns ami one hundred 
and two men, as o]»])osed to (he N/. Lain-<'iic(\s thir- 
teen guns and seventy-six men. I>oth vessels were 
scdiooners. When sighted by (''a])tain Boyle, the 
*S7. LairrciK-c was bearing im])ortant disjuitches and 
troops from lJear-A<lmira] Cockburn relative to the 
New Orleans exix'dition. 

Captain lioyle ])rom}>tly made sail in (diase, and 
soon disco\'ered the stranger to be a war craft hav- 
ing a convoy in com]>any, the latter being just dis- 
ceridble from the masthead. By noon the (^liassriir 
had ]><M-ce]»t il)ly gained on the (dias(% which to the 
Americans ai»peare(l to be a long, narrow ])ilot-l)oat 
S(diooner with yellow sides. When she made out the 
(^liass('ii)- she hauled u]) more to the north, evid(Mitly 
anxious to escape. At half past twelve Captain 
Boyle tired a gun and showed his colors, hoping to 
ascertain to what nation the chase belonged, but 
the latter ])aid no attention to the summons, and in 

> Sou jip. 3G0-2(;3. 



1815. ACTION WITU THE ST. LAWRENCE. 207 

licr efforts to carry a greater press of sail her fore- 
topmast was carried away. 

At the time this liap]>ene(l slie was about three 
mih'S ahead. Her ]>eo])le ])rom])tly ch'ared tiie 
wreck away and trimmed her sails sharp hy the 
wind. Owiiii;' to this accident the (iKissciir drew up 
on tlie chase very fast, and at one o'(do(dc the latter 
tired a stern uun and hoisted Eiiolish colors. As the 
stranii'er showed only tln-ee ports on the si(h' near- 
est to the (iKi.ssciir, ('ai)taiii Boyle mot the imju'essioii 
that she was a " rnnnini;' vess<d " bound for Havana 
wlii( h in all jn-obability was poorly armed and 
manned. Actini;' on this ini])ressioii he increas(Ml his 
<dTorts to ii<'t aloniLi'side, coiitiih'nt of making short 
work of her. This mistake of the Americans was 
encouraincd by the fact that very few men were seen 
on the deck of the stranger. 

As neither Captain Boyle nor his oflicei-s antici- 
]>ated serious fighting, the regular ])re])arations for 
battle were not ma(h'. At 1.2(» p.m. (he Clid.s.sciir 
was within pistol shot of tlu^ eneni}', when the latter 
suddenly triced n]t ten ])ort covers, showing that 
number of gnns and her <h^(d;s swarming with nn^i 
wearing the nniform of a regular British man-of- 
war. Evidently they had been carefully concealed 
(luring the chase. It took the enemy scarcely five 
seconds to give three cheers, run out tludr gnns, 
and pour in a whole broadside of ronml shot, grape, 
and mnsket balls into tlu' (IntsKCwr. For once, at 
least, the crafty \'ankee skii)per had been caught 
napping. lie was fairly and sqnaridy under the 
guns of an l*]nglish man-of-wai*, so that either ])rompt 
surrender or fight were the only alternativi^s. It <lid 
not take ('a]itain I'oyle an instant to decide^ on the 
laltei' course, and, although taken somewhat by sur- 
]>rise, lie made the best of the situation and returned 
the enemy's tire with both cannon and mnsketry. 

Believing thai his best (diance for A'ictory was at 
close (piarters, Captain Boyle endeavored to board 



298 CAPTAIN THOMAS BOYLE. 1815. 

in the smoke of liis broadside; but the Chasseur, 
having the greater speed at that moment, shot ahead 
under the stranger's lee. The latter put up his helm 
for the purpose of wearing across the privateer's 
stern, with a vieAV of pouring in a raking tire. Per- 
ceiving the enemy's object, Captain Boyle frustrated 
the maneuver by putting his helm up also. The Eng- 
lisliman now forged ahead and came within ten yards 
of the i>rivateer, the fire of both vessels at that time 
being exceedingly destructive. At 1.40 r. m. Cap- 
tain Boyle, seizing a favorable moment, put his helm 
to starboard and called on his men to follow him 
ab(nird the enemy. Just as the two vessels came to- 
g(4h(n' W. N. Christie, prize master, jumped aboard 
the stranger's deck, followed by a number of other 
Americans, but before they could strike a blow the 
English surrendin-ed. 

The Ht. La\n-vuv(\ according to British accounts, 
mounted twelve short 12-pounders and one long 9- 
pounder and had a complement of seventy-five men, 
besides a number of officers, S(ddi(n-s, and civilians 
as passengers, who were bound for the British s^puid- 
ron off New Orleans. According to the report of her 
commander she had six men killed and seventeen 
wounded, S(n'eral of them mortally. According to 
Ameri<-an accounts the English had fifteen killed 
and twenty-five wounded. The N^ Lainriicc was 
found to b(^ seriously injured in the hull, while 
scarcely a rope was left intact, such had been the 
nc<-uracy and rapidity of the C]i<issciii-\^ fire. The 
])rivateer also suffered considerably in her sails and 
rigging, while five of her crew were killed and eight 
wounded, among the latter being Captain Boyle him- 
self. In view of the fact that the action lasted only 
fifteen minutes these casualties reveal, better than 
words, the despei'ate nature of the encounter. The 
(lidssrirr mounted six 12-pounders and eight short 
l)-]>ounders — ten of her (H-iginal sixteen 12-pounders 
having been thrown overboard when the privateer 




=5s 



05 



1815. ACTION WITH THE ST. LAWRENCE. 299 

was chased by the British fri«;ate Bareosa. They 
were rephiced by the O-poiinders which had beeu 
taken from a prize. 

" From the number of hammocks, bedding', etc., 
found on board the enemy," said Captain Boyle, in 
his official report to one of the owners of the Chas- 
seur, George P. Stephenson, of Baltimore, " it led us 
to believe that many more were killed than were 
reported. The aS7. Lmrnnur lired double the weight 
of shot that we did. From her 12-pounders at close 
quarters she fired a stand of grape and two bags 
containing two hundred and twenty musket balls 
each, when from the CliasscHv\'< 9-pounders were fired 
G- and 4-pound shot, we having no other except 
some few grai>e." In closing his report. Captain 
Boyle speaks in the highest terms of the gallantrj^ 
of his first officer, John Dieter, and of the sec- 
ond and third officers, ]Moran and Hammond N. 
Stansbury. 

That night the masts of the »S7. Lairrence went by 
the board, and having no object in bringing home so 
many prisoners Captain Boyle made a cartel of his 
prize and sent the prisoners by her into Havana. 
After this gallant affair the (liassfur returned to 
the United States with her hold filled with valuable 
goods. She arrived in Baltimore, April 15. 1815, 
where it was learned that a treaty of peace had been 
signed. So well ])leased were t\w British officers at 
the treatment they rec(^ived fi'oni the Americans 
that TJeutenant (lordon issued the following me- 
morial or certificate dated: "At Sea, February 27, 
1S15, on board the United States Privateer CJuis- 
sctif: In the event of Captain Boyle's becoming a 
pris()n<'r of war to any British cruiser I consider it a 
tribute justly due to his humane and generous treat- 
ment of myself, the surviving officers and crew of 
His ^Majesty's late S(diooner ^f. Lairrfiicc, to state 
that his obliging attention and watchful solicitude 
to preserve our effects and render us comfortable 



300 



CAPTAIN THOMAS BOYLE. 1815. 



(luring the short time we were in his possession 
were sueh as justly entitle him to the iudulgeuce 
and respect of every British subject. I also certify 
that his endeavors to render us comfortable and to 
secure our property were carefully seconded by all 
his officers, who did their utmost to that effect." 



CHAPTER VI. 

A DISTINGITISHEI) PRIVATEERSMAN. 

One of the most distinguished American priva- 
teersmeu in the War of 1812 was Cai»tain Joshua 
Barney, wliose career both in the Unit(Ml States naA\y 
and in the privateer service during- the Kevolution 
has been already noted in this work. At the close of 
the struggle for independence Barney, like all his 
brother officers in the navy, retired to private life. 
AMiile trading in the West Indies, as commander 
of the tine coppered ship l^(i)iip.soii, Barney, on July 
12, 1793, f(dl in with three English privateers, two 
from Jamaica and one from New Providence, and 
was boarded. On looking over his papers the officers 
from the Jamaica privateers permitted him to go 
free, but the commander of the New Providence 
craft decdared that the iron (diest, containing eight- 
een thousand dollars in specie, was suspicious, and 
that " no American master ever had iron chests or 
dollars on board his vess(d," and that he was willing 
to lei the vessel g(> free if the money were given up. 
As Barney refused to submit to the robbery, his crew 
was taken aboard the privateer, with the exception 
of the car])enter, boatswain, and cook, and a guard 
of eleven men was i)laced in <diarge, with orders to 
follow the privateer into New Providinice; notwith- 
standing the two nations were at pc^ace. 

In the course of tlie afternoon Barney managed 
to communicate with his car])(mter, boatswain, and 
cook, and found them ready to act with him in any 

301 



302 A DISTINGUISHED PRIVATEERSMAN. 1793. 

effort to rocaptiire their ship. The Britisli prize 
crew behaved in the most offensive manner toward 
their victims, calling them " reb(d rascals," " Yan- 
kee traitors," and thrc^atenini;- to " blow their brains 
ont " and '' to throw them overboard,'' at the same 
time searchiuo- the ship and helping- themselves to 
arti<des of valne after the most approved i)iratical 
fashion. On the evenins^' of Jnly 19th, five days after 
their captnre, Barney learned that each of his men 
had possessed himself of a gun and bayonet, which 
they concealed in their berths, while Barney himself 
managed to secrete a brass blnnderbnss and a broad- 
sword. It was not long before the Americans had 
arranged a plan of attack. The following day being 
rainy and S(inally, the prize crew was kept busy 
navigating the shiji. At noon hour the three prize 
officers dined together <ni a hencoop near the main- 
mast, while their men, except the one at the helm, 
messed on the forecastle. 

This was tlie moment ( hosen by Barney to re- 
ca]ttnre his ship. Ste]>])ing to the ronndhonse he 
picked n]> his naked sword, ]>nt it nnder his arm, 
seized the blnnderbnss, cock(Hl it, and, join(MT by his 
car])enter and boatswain, wh<> also had armed tliem- 
S(dves, advanc(Ml n])on the thi'ee officers seated npon 
the qnarter-de(dv. One of these officers immediately 
S])raTig n])on Barney, closing with him, and endeav- 
ored to wr(^st the bhinderl>nss from his hand, but 
in the scnffle the weajxni Avent off' and lodged its 
charge of bnckshot in the Englishman's right arm, 
who then yielded. Barney then knocdvcd down the 
s(M-ond officer with a blow on the head with his 
broadsw(trd, while the third man ran below. The 
seven seamen who were on the forecastle, on hearing 
the dis<diarge of the blnnderbnss, ran into the fore- 
castle to get their arms, bnt before they conld re- 
gain the deck the carpenter and boatswain had 
fastened the scuttle and made prisoners of them. 

The Americans were now in full possession of 



179:3-1794. ATTEMPTED MURDER OF BARNEY. 3(1;^ 

tlicir ship, and on the prize crew promising" to serve 
tljeir new masters tli(\v were allowed to come on 
deck, one at a time, where their arms were taken 
frcnn them and thrown overboard. The eonrse of the 
ship was then chanii'ed to r»altimore. For many days 
the Americans maintained a most anxions watcdi 
over their prisoners. I'arney kept the deck nij»iit 
and day, sleepinji' only at <laytime, in an arnudiair, 
with his sword between his le^s and pistols in his 
belt, while either the cook or boatswain stood j^nard 
besi<le him, armed with a mnsket, sword, and pistols. 
No one, nnless S])ecially called, was allowed to come 
abaft tli(^ mainmast nuder penalty of instant death. 
In this manner Barney made for the United States, 
arriving- in Baltimore early in Anj^nst. 

In the followini*' December Barney was a^ain 
tradini.;' amoiii;" the West Indies, a^ain in command 
of the ^^dnips'oii. On January 2, 1794, he was seized 
by the British frigate PciiiJopr, Captain Bowley. 
Barney was bron.uht aboard the frij^ate and treated 
with f>reat severity, and carried, with his men and 
slii]), into Port Boyal, Jamaica, where he was in- 
dicted for "piracy" and for " shootinii' with intent 
to kill.'' After a trial he was adjudi^ed ''not 
ii'uilty." ]Meantime he had been seriously delayed 
in his mercantile pnrsnits. Barney was convinced 
that the commander ol" the rciiclopc was actuated by 
malignant fcMdinus ai^ainst him, and the cii*cnm- 
stances in the case sec^m to jnstify that belief. When 
Barney was first tak(Mi aboard the frijiatis as we 
have seen. Captain Bowley treated him in a most 
brutal mannei', nsin^- vnliiar and nnofticerdike lan- 
Unaiic B>arn(\v resented this, and very properly told 
Ihe lOiiiilish commaiidcr that he was a coward to 
take advantage of his ])osition "to insnlt a man 
whom he would not dare to meet upon equal terms, 
at sea or on sliore; that the o])i)(trtunity miiiht come 
for retaliation, when he should remember the ])ol- 
t roou who commanded the En<;lish frigate Penelope.^'' 



304 A DISTINGUISHED PRIVATEERSMAN. 1794. 

Captaiu I\owk\y interrupted this speech by orderiug 
the marines to place the American between two 
guns witli a sentinel over him, who had orders, given 
in a loud voice, " to blow the rascaTs brains ont " 
if he spoke again or attemi)ted to leave the space 
allotted to him. 

After the v(^ssels had reacdud l*ort Iloyal Captain 
Rowley showed himself in the streets every day; bnt 
after the trial, when Barney was again free, the com- 
mander of the Pcitvlopc kept hims(df aboard ship. 
Barney believed that this was done to avoid a per- 
sonal meeting. One evening, abont dnsk, shortly 
after the trial, Barney was walking through one of 
the streets unattended, when he suddenly heard a 
voice from the opposite side calling out: 

"Barney, take care of yours(dr! Look behind!" 

The American officer whirled round, and at the 
same time dr<'w a ])istol from his poidcet. He was 
none too quick, for (lose bcdiind him was a ruffian in 
sailor's dress witli ujdifted (dub in his hand, Avith 
which, but U)V the timely warning, he would have 
felled Barney to the ground. On the sight of the 
pistol the ruffian dro]>ped his (dub and took to his 
heels. On iu<|uiry Barney was convinced that this 
man was one of the /*c//r/o/n '.s- crew, and had been 
emi)loyed by Bowley to murder him. 

This b(di(d' was str(Migthen(Ml a few days later, 
wdien Barney, being in a coffe(diouse, heard his 
name mentioiHMl in an insulting manner, coupled 
with the exi>ress(Ml wish of the sjx'aker to " meet the 
rascal." Barney walked u]) to the grou]> where the 
sptniker was and announced himself as the man 
sought. The speaker ]>roved to be an officer of the 
Fciirlopc, but seemed disin(dine(l to gratify his de- 
sire of " meeting the rascal." Thereu]ion Barney 
tweaked his nos(^ and kicked the cowardly braggart 
out of the coffe(diouse, as nuudi to the amusement 
of the many Americans present as to a number of 
British army and navy officers who had become 



179G-1812. THE ROSSIE PREPARES FOR SEA. ;5()5 

(lisiiiisted with their coiintryiiian's insufferable 
bearin<;'. 

In 1790 Barney entered the L^rench navy, where 
lie remained several years, attainini;- the rank ef coni- 
niodere. He retnrn(Ml to the ITnited States in 1801 
and a<2,ain became a private citizen. Ilearini;' of the 
('li(s(ii)('(ik(-L('()j)(n-<1 affair, in 1807, he at once tendered 
his services to the (lovernment, bnt as that incident 
was amicably adjusted his services were not needed. 
It was not sui']trisin,ii', tlnn-efore, that an ofticer who 
had s(n'ved with sn(di distinction in both the Ameri- 
can and F]-(Mi(di navies, and also in the privateer 
service, should be ea^u'erly sonj^ht at the beninninji; 
of hostilities with (Jreat Britain in 1812. 

As soon as it was known that war had been de- 
clared a number of Baltimore merchants fitted out 
the fine scdiooner Jxossic and tendered the command 
of her to ('a]>tain liarney. The Ixoss'tc was arnuHl 
with ten short 12-pounders and three loni;- j;uns, and 
carried a crew of one hundred and twenty ukmi. 
('a])tain Barney, like the thoroughbred seaman he 
^\as, had not into the habit of beiui;- very careless in 
money matters. I*robably few seamen of his period 
had earned so nun h money as he durinii a career 
on the ocean. ]Many thousand dollars had been 
<-redited to his account, but they were quickly scat- 
tered in a thoroui;hly careless manner almost as 
rnpi<lly as received. He was not the kind of a ja( k 
tar to bother his Invid about l(Ml<iers and balance^ 
slu'ets, and when on land, or (dsewhere, he ran up 
bills with a])])allin_ii' recdvlessness. 

It seems on this occasion that ra])tain Barney 
had incurred an ind(d>t(Mlness amountinii' to sonn^- 
liiiui; like one thousand dollai's. Su(h an insi^nifi- 
cant affair as this <.;ave the redoubtable sailoi', who 
was a<-customed to make his thousands in on<' cruise, 
n(» more conc(M*n than a mos(|uito bite, and he was so 
absoi-bed in his j)re])ai'at ions of aii,ain _!j,('t t in;Li <'ii blu<' 
water thai he had foriiotten this trifiiui: obliiiation. 



306 A DISTINGUISJIEI) PRIVATEKKSMAN. 1812. 

Not SO, liowovor, witli his creditor. Just as tlio dis- 
tiiinnislied seaman, surrounded by crowds of well- 
wishers, <;(»t to the wharf, and was abont to step 
into his boat to put ofl' to the A'o.s-.v/r, a depnty sheriff 
|Li(Mitly ta]>])ed him on the shonldei', and, expressin"^ 
]'e<»ret at beinii' oblij^cd to detain him, said dnty com- 
pelled him to report that there was a " snspicion of 
debt" a<>ainst him io the amonnt of one thonsand 
dollars, which it would be necessary for him to clear 
n]) before i^oinji' away. Ivememberinj^- that the " sns- 
])icion " was well founded, and beini*' a man of honor, 
I'arney (piietly ;nave himself \\\) to the officer, who 
contented himself very civilly with the captain's 
word that he wonld make his appearance wlien 
called for. 

This, of conrse, postponed the contemplated 
crnise — which, thonoh short, amonnted to one mil- 
lion and a half dollars in captures — as Barney had no 
means of meeting- the oblij^ation. It wonld have been 
very easy for him to have qnietly sli])ped aboard the 
Ixossir and sailed away in spite of the sheriff, and 
to have ])aid the indebtedness out of the profits of 
the crnise, or to have pnt back into some other port 
where the sheriff could not have interfered with 
him. Rnt this was not snited to the taste or nianli- 
m^ss of Barney. Tie sannter(Ml aimlessly abont the 
town, not knowinii' Avhat io do. I'inally, as he was 
l»assini;- throuiih South Street, he n^ached the house 
of his friend, Isaac ^FcKim. ]Mr. ]McKim ex])ressed 
much sur]>rise at seeing' Captain Barney, su]>posinij:: 
that by that time tlie ])rivateersman was at least 
half-way to tlu^ Capes. Barney exi)lained the cause 
of the delay, U]M)n which Mr. iNfcKim prom|>tly ma<l(^ 
<i'ood the amount, and on July 12, 1812, only twenty- 
four days after the deiMaration of war, the Ro-'^sic 
beuan a cruise of extraordinary success. 

After taking- several merchantmen of oreat value, 
the /'o.v.s/f , on Au^iust 9th, fell in with the British 
])rivateer ship Jauink', of twelve ^nns, G- and 9- 



1812. ACTION WITH THE PRINCESS AMELIA. 307 

jxniiidors. After a sliarp action the Jcaimic siir- 
reiiderod. On the nii;ht of September IGth Captain 
liarney fell in with the British Government packet 
/'/•/■//rc.s'.s' Auidiii, ('ai)tain ^Foorsom. The Americans, 
beiiii;- arine<l principally witli short gnus, quickly 
came to close (piarters, and as there was moonliii'lit 
they were able to tii^ht it out. The enemy availed 
tluMnselves of this by concealinii their sharpshooters 
in the shadows of the mast, rigjuini^-, and bnlwarks, 
and tiring' with com])arativ(^ impnnity, while the 
Americans in the liossic (that ship havin<»' no bnl- 
warks) were "rcnitly exposed. After a severe strnii;- 
ule, lastint!,' about an hour, the enemy called for 
(piarter, their commander, sailini;' master, and one 
man beiiiii; killed and seven wonmhMl (ten according 
to another account). On the i>art of the Americans, 
First Officer Long was mortally injured and six men 
were wounde*!. 

After a cruise <tf ninety days the Rossir returned 
to i)ort, having ca])ture(l four shi])s, eight brigs, 
tliree sidiooners, and three sloo]»s, valuiMl at over one 
million live hundred tliousand dollars, including the 
cargoes. Seven of these vessels were burned at sea 
and two hundred and seventeen prisoners were 
taken, many of whoiu werc^ sent to Newfoundland 
in one of the bi-igs. This was the first and only 
cruise of (''ai>tain Barney in this war as a privateers- 
man. Soon afterward he was again taken into the 
regular navy and performed valuable services.^ 

1 See IMachiy's llisUiry of I lie Navy, vol. i, i»p. 5.S;3-r).sr). 



('IIAPTEU VTI. 

DECATUR DOMINICA FIOHT. 

If anvtliiiii;' can excuse privatccriiio' it is the fact 
tliat so many of onr ])i'ivate armed craft attacked 
and cai)tni'ed British war sliii)S. It can not be de- 
ni<Hl that the mainsi)rin,ii- of privateering in all conn- 
tries i)retendini; to maritime power was the chance 
of plnnder. This was the objecl fctr whiidi traders 
were fitted, armed, and s(Mit out at private (^xi)ense, 
and it was the booty the owners of the vess(d ex- 
])ected to ,ii'et from the enemy's commerce that was 
to reimburse them foi* this <'X]»enditnre and risk. 
This license to '' seize, burn, av destroy " ships and 
«;<)ods bidoniiiui;- to the enemy too fref|uently de;Li'en- 
erated to a (h'iiree wliere it was liai-d to dist iniiuish 
betwe(Mi ]»rivate(q'int^ and ]>iracy, and in this way 
the former was brought into licneral disre]>ute. 

Privateeriuii' at tlie hands of Amei-ican seamen, 
however, can not be said to have been thus de|i;raded. 
On the contrary, the rules of war and the laws of 
humanity were (pnte as strictly observed by our pri- 
vateersmen as by their brethren in the navy. Fre- 
quently the sordid lovc^ of ^ain was liallantly thrust 
aside by thesi^ amateur man-(d'-warsmen, and th<^ 
enemy's war ships were attacked when it was only 
too wtdl known that nothing- but hard blows and 
empty holds would be found; or, worse y('t, in case of 
capture, biaital im])i'essment or si)eedy (hnith at the 
yardarm if the I>ritish commandei' should take it into 
his head that some of the cajdured Americans were 
;3()8 



1812-18U. OLD IRONSIDES CHASES THE DECATUR. :]{)*,) 

deserters from the Ro3^al Navy. Notwithstanding' 
all these inducements to steer clear of the regular 
Avar ships of the enemy, there were several instances 
in which Yankee privateersmen gave battle to sucli 
craft, and by that act alone raised the American pri- 
vateer to a high and respectable position in the mari- 
time forces of the Avorld. One of the most notable 
actions of this kind in the War of 1812 was tlmi 
between the American privateer Dec(ifin\ Cnptain 
Dominique Diron, of Charleston, and the English 
ci'uiser Doniiiiica, Lieutenant George Wilmot I'ar- 
rett(^. 

Three of the American privateers in iliis war 
bore the name Decatur. One was a schooner of f<»ui- 
guns and twenty-three men, under Captain S. N. 
Lane, from ^Nlaine. This craft was pierced for six- 
teen guns, and the fact that she mounted only four 
indicates that her owners w^ere unable to secure a 
larger number, and sent her to sea in the hope of fill- 
ing out her armament from prizes, as so many of our 
private armed craft had done. This Decatur was not 
very successful, and on September 3, 1814, while 
under the command of Captain E. Brown, she was 
captured by an English squadron, but subscHpiently 
was lost at sea. 

Another Drcafiir, a fine brig carrying fourteen 
gnus and one hundred and sixty men, under Captain 
Nichols, of Newburyport, was one of the most suc- 
cessful privateers from the Eastern ports. She got 
to sea at the beginning of hostilities and captured 
four ships, six brigs, two barks, and two schooners. 
One of these prizes was destroyed at sea and three 
Avere converted into cartels. This was the privateer 
that on the night of August 18, 1812, Avas chased 
two hours by the United States 44-gun frigate Coii- 
sfitulion, Captain Isaac Hull. Mistaking the frigate 
for the enemy. Captain Nichols threw overboard 
twelve of his fourteen guns; but even this extreme 
measure did not avail, for the Conf<iUuilnn succeeded 



310 DEC^ATUR-DOMINICA FIGHT. 1812-1813. 

in gettini>" al<nii;si(le, and on sendini>- a boat aboard 
discovercMl tho privateer's true cliaracter. Only the 
day before the Decaf iir had been eliased by the Brit- 
ish frif;ate (iiicrrirrc, for wliich Captain Ilnll was 
searchinii', but ]ia<l easily ontsailed her. Here we 
have an (excellent illnstration of the superior qnali- 
ti(^s of the Anicricaii craft over that of the English, 
for tlio Divdttir had eluded the (iiicrrirrr, but had 
been nnable to get away from the CoiistiliiHoit, even 
by the sacritice of most of her gnns. 

It was in reference to this incident that Kowan 
Stevens, son of the late IJear-Admiral Thomas 
II(ddnp Stevens, wrote: 

" And on tliroug-h the summer seas we bore, 

Until otf stern Cape Clear 
Our ship fell in with a sloop-o'-war, 

A Yankee privateer. 
We hailed for news, and the sloop hove to, 

And off her skipper came, 
xVud l)oarded us in a leaky yawl 

AVilli his wrathful cheek aflame; 
For ' l)own to the southward he'd been chased. 

By a powerful Enylish ship 
That was just too slow for his flying' heels, 

And just too big to whip.' 
We scut liiui back with a cheerful heart, 

AjkI down to the south we swept, 
And a sharp lookout o'er the vacant sea 

Alow and aloft we kept." 

Tlie ('(HislihiHon fell in with the (hni'virrc on the 
following day, and the result is well known. The 
Dcviihir returned to ])ort, and, after renewing her 
arinnmeiit, she made a cruise in the West Indies. 
On January 1(>, 1S18, while off Barbadoes, she was 
ca]dured by the l>i-itish frigate Surprise. Before the 
war this Deeahir had been the mei*(diantman Alert. 
Soon after hostilities broke out the AJerf was cap- 
tured by the British frigate Testaly but Xi(diols, who 
commanded the Alerf, succeeded in recapturing his 



1806-1813. CAPTAIN DIRON-S FINE RECORD. ;511 

ship and ii'ot her into port. When seized by the ^^iir- 
prisr, Kichols was taken to Barbadoes, whei-e h<' was 
recognized by the commander of the Vcsfdl, who 
took this opi)ortnnity to " ""et even " with the pri- 
vateersman who had the ''presumption to recai>tui'e 
a i)i'ize of His Ilritannic Majesty's frij;ate " by con- 
fininij, Nicliols in a room not bu'.uer than five by seven 
feet, where he was cruelly treated and then sent to 
England. 

The thir<l and last Dvctitur in this war hailed from 
Charh'ston, South Carolina. She was a schooner 
carrying six 12-]>ounders and one long IS-pounder on 
a pivot amidshii»s, and on this, her most ev<'ntful 
cruise, she carried a complement of one hundred and 
three men and boys. Captain Diron, her comma n<ler, 
was one of the most celebrated privateersmen in 
his day. In September, 180G, while in command of 
the French privateer Siipvrhc, he made a heroic de- 
fense against the British cruisers Drake, Captain 
Bobert Nicolas, and the Pitt, Lieutenant JMichael 
Fitton. For three nights and two da^'S Diron main- 
tained a plucky fight against these vessels, and final- 
ly succeeded in running his ship ashore and esca]>ing 
with his men. At the outbreak of the War of 1812 
he was ]»laced in command of the privateer Dccaliir. 
Among his first ])rizes was the ship Nelson, wliicli 
was described as " a monstrous three-decdced vessel 
of six liundred tons, with an immensely valuabh^ 
cargo.'' She Avas boun<l for Jamaica, and was sent 
into XeAV Orleans, March, 1813. The Dceatiir also 
took the brig 'rjioiiids, of two guns, which was I'e- 
leased and sent into Halifax with the i)rison<'rs. 

The Jfoiniiiicd was a three-masted schooner cai-ry- 
ing tw(dve short 12-])ounders, two loug (i-])onndci'S, 
one brass 4-pounder, and a short 32-]>ounder on a 
pivot. She was maniuMl by eighty-eiglit men and 
boys. On September 4, 1812, this cruiser ca])lui'<'d 
the 8-gun armed sclioouer /'rorideiiee, Cnjdaiu X. 
Hopkins, of l*r<Kidence. The Prorhlence is not 



312 DECATUR-DOMINICA FIGHT. 1S1;1 

credited with any prizes, being taken shortly after 
leaving port. In the chase of ten hours, Captain 
Hopkins had thrown overboard all his guns on the 
leeward side. At the time the Dominica fell in with 
the Decatur she had under her convoy the Govern- 
ment packet ship Princess Chat'lotte, from St. Thomas 
for England, and the merchantman London Trader, 
from Surinam homeward bound. The Princess Char- 
lotte carried a formidable armament, and the London 
Trader also was well armed. 

The Decatur left port in the summer of 1813 on a 
general cruise against British commerce, and early 
in August she was in the track of British West India 
traders homeward bo\ind. Early on the morning 
of August 5th, when in latitude 23° 4' north, longi- 
tude 67° 0' west, or a little to the south of the Ber- 
mudas, the Decalur was heading northward under 
easy sail, hoping for some prize to appear. About 
10.30 A. M. the man at the masthead reported a sail 
beai'iug away to the south, and shortly afterward 
another, steering in the same direction, was sighted. 
Captain Diron promptly tacked southward, with a 
view of getting the weather gauge of the strangers, 
so that, should they prove to be British cruisers, he 
would have the advantage in a chase. This precau- 
tion was rendered doubly necessary, as the fact of 
two vessels cruising in company rendered it prob- 
able that they were the enemy's sloops of war, for 
so astonishing had been the victories of the little 
American navy, and so appalled had the British pub- 
lic become at the results of the war as far as it per- 
tained to their navy, that their Lordships of the Ad- 
miralty had directed British 38-gun frigates to avoid 
the dreaded American 44-gun ships, while their 
sloops of war were to sail in pairs. 

For this reason Captain Diron approached the 
strangers with caution, knowing that there was a 
strong probability of their being a couple of Brit- 
ish sloops of w^nr. The danger of approaching a 



18i;5. ATTEMPTS TO BOARD. 31;^ 

stronger force, howevor, did not prevent the Ameri- 
cans from cominp; to clos(^r raniie, and at 11 A. m. 
it was seen that the sails were a ship and a schooner, 
whi( h, on niakin<2; ont the sails of the Decatur, had 
changed their conrse to the north so as to meet her. 
The three vessels slowly rednced the distance be- 
tween them, and at 12.30 p. m. the I )(<•<! fur, ha vine; se- 
cnred a position a little to windward, and beini;" 
almost within i^nnshot, wore round and ran a little 
to leeward, upon which the schooner showed English 
colors. (''ai)tain Diron was now satisfied that lie 
had an English war schooner to deal with and that 
the ship was under its protection. Half an hour 
later he wore again, still keepino- the weather gauj^e, 
and about 1.30 p. m. the stranger tired a shot, which 
fell short. 

Knowing that the British commander had a 
heavier armament than the privateer, but believing 
that he had the greater number of men to man his 
slii]). Captain Diron determined to have the fight at 
the (dosest (juarters, and to carry the Englishman by 
boarding. Accordingly he (deared for action, sent 
his men to quarters, loaded all his guns, and hoisted 
AuK^'ican colors. To make sure that no nmn could 
leave his post and run b<dow. Captain Diron, after 
having got all his ammunition, water, sand, etc., on 
de(dv, ready for instant use, ordered all the hatches 
closed. It was the ]dan of th(^ Americans to get as 
(dose to the enemy as possible before firing a shot, 
d(diver their entire broadside and a volley from their 
small arms, and then to board in the smoke. In 
oi'dcr to secure tlu^ r>ritish shi]> alongside grappling 
irons were in readiness to be thrown aboard. 

Having made all Ins arrangements for the battle, 
Ca]>tain Diron about 2 P. M. wore ship, with a view 
of passing under th(^ stern of the enemy and giving 
a i-akiug fire, but as the schooners neared ea(di other 
the iMiglishman luffed and gave his broadside, most 
of the shot passing over the American. This is only 

23 



314 DECATUR-DOMINICA FIGET. 1813. 

another indication of the overconfidence of the Brit- 
ish naval oftieer in this war. So couhdent was Lieu- 
tenant Barrette of taking the American that he 
ordered his gnnners to aim at the Yankee's rigging 
so as to prevent her from running. But if this was 
the Englishman's motive in firing so high he soon 
had cause to repent it, for at 2.15 p. m. the Ameri- 
cans began the lire of their long torn, and as it was 
aimed with co(dness and deliberation, within half- 
gunshot distance, the effect in so small a vessel was 
serious, disabling several of the Englishman's guns, 
besides injuring many men. At all events, it speed- 
ily changed the English commander's tactics, and 
the few guns that remained mounted on that side 
were now trained on the privateer's hull. 

The destructive work done by the American's 
long tom, however, had given Captain Diron the 
advantage, and, so far from evincing a disposition 
to run away, he soon discovered that that was the 
purpose of his opponent, and in order to prevent it 
he filled away so as to bring his bowsprit over the 
enemy's stern. The English endeavored to frustrate 
this by directing a whole broadside at the advancing 
Yankee, but they were too excited, or their gun- 
nery was so poor that the shot did little or no execu- 
tion. Had they taken good aim the effect of those 
guns at su(di a short distance would have been ter- 
rific. The Decaf II I- could respond to this fire only 
with her long tom, l)ut as that was discdiarged with 
the usual skill and coolness of American gunners 
it effected far greater damage than the English- 
man's broadside. It was now *> r. m., and the vessels 
were so near to each other that the voices of the 
officers aboard the British ship, urging their men 
to renewed energy, could be distinctly heard. Cap- 
tain Diron then order his boarders to leave their 
guns and assemble forward, arm themselves with 
muskets and cutlasses, and be in readiness to spring 
upon the enemy's decks. 



181:5. STRUGGLE ON THE ENGLISHMAN'S DECK. 315 

The British at tliis stage of the battle evidently 
realized the seriousness of the fight, for their officers 
could be heard warning their gunners to take better 
aim, and to fire into the Yankee's hull instead of his 
rigging, as heretofore. The result of this admo- 
nition was seen in the effect of the next broadside 
which the enemy delivered. The shots hulled the 
Dccafiiry killed two of her crew, and materially in- 
jured her sails and rigging. This broadside did 
more damage than all the others. It also pre- 
vented Captain Diron from carrying out his plan of 
boarding; for, some of his ropes being severed, his 
sails became temporarily unmanageable. Eepairs 
were quickly made, and, though foiled in their at- 
tem])t to board, the Americans renewed the action 
with their long tom and 12-pounder, believing that 
an op]>()rtunity would yet be offered them to settle 
the fight on the Englishman's deck. 

After delivering their first ett'ective fire, the Eng- 
lishmen filled away so as to prevent the AuKM-icans 
from boarding, while Captain Diron dogge<lly fol- 
lowed close under their stern, determined to boar<l at 
any cost. In this way, bow to stern, the two craft 
ran several minutes, neither side being able to main- 
lain a very effective fire. The Americans now made 
another attempt to board, but it was frustrated in 
the same manner as the first. 

]>ut the last move made by the British schooner, 
in liei' endeavor to avoid boarding, gave the Jhcdtiir 
tlie advantage in sailing, and, persisting in following 
(lose in the wake of his enemy. Captain Diron finally 
had the satisfaction of seeing his craft gradually 
overhaul the p]ngiisliman. Again he called for his 
boarders, and at 3.30 p. :\r. the Dccdttir ran her bow- 
s])rit over the enemy's stern, her jib boom piercing 
the lOnglishman's mainsail. This was the signal 
for the Americans to board, and while some of them 
poured in a heavy fire of musketry others, led by 
N'incent Safitt, the prize master, and Thomas Was- 



3 If; DECATUR-DOMINICA FIGHT. 1813. 

born, the quartermaster, clambered along the bow- 
sprit and sprang to the Englishman's deck. Then 
began a terrible scene of slaughter and bloodshed. 
The two crews were soon intermingled in an inex- 
tricable mass, which the narrow decks of the 
schooner kept compact as long as the struggle 
lasted. Nearly two hundred men and boys armed 
with pistols, cutlasses, and muskets were now shout- 
ing, yelling, and cheering, and slashing at each other 
in a space not more than twenty feet wide and eighty 
feet long. 

One of the tirst to fall on the side of the enemy 
was their gallant commander. Lieutenant Barrette, 
a young man not more than twenty-tive years old, 
who had conducted himself from the beginning of 
the fight with conspicuous gallantry, notwithstand- 
ing his contempt for the Yankee sailor. He had re- 
ceived a bad wound early in the action, two musket 
balls having passed through the left arm. But this 
did not prevent him from remaining at his post. He 
was urged several times by his surviving officers to 
surrender, but refused to do so, avowing his deter- 
mination not to survive the loss of his vessel. A 
few moments before he received his fatal wound he 
severely injured one of the American officers with a 
saber cut. The sailing master, Isaac Sacker, and 
the purser, David Brown, of the Doiniiiira, also were 
killed, while ^fidshipmen William Archer and Wil- 
liam Barry were wounded. In fact, the only English 
officers not killed or wounded were the surgeon and 
one midshipman. It was not until eighteen of the 
Doutiiiica')^ crew were killed and forty-two wounded 
that the few survivors were induced to surrender. 
A total of sixty killed or wounded in a crew of 
eighty-eight fully attests the desperate nature of 
the struggle and the gallantry of the men against 
whom the Americans fought. Even with this ap- 
palling percentage of killed and wounded the Eng- 
lishmen can not be reported as having surrendered, 



lbi:5. 



A BATTLE ROYAL. 



31' 



for the Americans hauled down the colors with their 
own hands. On the part of the privateer five men 
were killed and fifteen wonnded, which disi)arity of 
casualties is to be ascribed sohdy to the superior sea- 
manslii]) of Captain Diron and the better marksman- 
ship of the Americans, both with the cannon and 
small arms. 

That this was in truth a battle royal will W 
seen by comparing it with the rej^ular naval actions 
betwcnm sloojts of Avar in the contlict: 



Comparative Casualties. 



Name op Action. 



Decatur. . 
Doiniidra 



JJonii'f. 
Peacock 



Frolic 



Arc/i'.s. . 
l'e]ic(i)i. 



EiiterpriH' 
Boxer . . . 



Peacock . 
Epercier 



Wasp . . 
Reindeer 



W(txp . 
A roll . 



Hornet. . 
I'enguin 



Guns. 


Crew. 


Killed. 


Wounded. 


7 


108 


5 


15 1 


10 


88 


18 


43 


20 


143 


1 


4 


20 


i:}0 


5 


33 


18 


138 


5 


5 


23 


110 


15 


47 


30 


135 


6 


17 


21 


IIG 


o 


5 


16 


103 


o 


10 1 


14 


100 


4 


17 


33 


lOO 







18 


138 


8 


15 


22 


173 


11 


15 


19 


118 


35 


43 


32 


103 


o 


1 


18 


117 


10 


33 


20 


133 


1 


11 


19 


138 


10 


28 



Total. 



30 
00 



10 
03 



13 
31 



33 



43 

13 
38 



W'liih' llic battle between the American priva- 
teer and tlic liritish cruiser was ra.uiuii," the com- 
niandei' (d" the l*r\iu'(ss CluirJoitf did not deem it his 
phice to lake ])art in the tij.>ht, and for over an hour 
rcmaiiKMl a ]>assive s])ectator. But as soon as it was 
seen lliat the Amei'ican was the victor the l^iiiiccsft 
('harh)llc tacked to the south, and by suns(d had dis- 



318 DECATUR-DOMINICA FIGHT. 181B. 

appeared. She bad left St. Thomas for England, and 
was to be under the escort of the Doiiilnira until well 
clear of the American coast, when she bad intended 
to proceed on her voyage alone. Arriving* in Eng- 
land, the commander of the pacd^et reported that he 
had left " the Dtnitiiilvn in hot pursuit of a Yankee 
privateer." 

As soon as victory was assured Captain Dirou 
employed all the men he could in repairing damages; 
for capturing a ship and taking her saf(dy into i)ort 
when the coasts of the United States were swarming 
with l»ritish cruisers were tM'o very distinct achieve- 
nu'uts. Having given the dead a sailor's })nrial, and 
liaving attended the wounded (the English receiv- 
ing quite as mucdi attention as the Americans), 
Captain Diron licadcd for Cliarleston. The Dccdfiir 
and the Doiiiiiiicd made land lU'ar Georgetown, and 
running down the coast cross(Ml Charleston bar 
safely August 20) h, the Domiiiica appcai'iug under 
the colors she had taken from the ProvUlviicc. For 
several days before two English brigs of war had 
been hovering off the port; but, fortunatcdy, on 
the day Captain Dirou ap])roa(duMl the}'^ had been 
drawn off in chase to the south. 

Arriving in i)ort, Captain Diron heard that the 
British merchant ship Loiidon Tnulcr had arrived 
safely at Savannah. This ship had Ikmmi sailing in 
company with the Domiiiicd and the I'ruicc.s!^ Char- 
hific when they fell in with the bold Draiiiir. The 
London Tnuhr made her escape while the AnKU'ican 
]>rivateer was engaged in fighting the Doin'micd, but 
on the following day Captain Dir<ni fell in with and 
captured her. She had on board a cargo consisting 
of two hundred and nine hogsheads of sugar, one 
hundred and forty tierces of molasses, fifty-five 
hogslieads of rum, seven hundred bags of coffee, and 
sixty bales of cotton. 

Captain George Coggeshall, who c(uumanded sev- 
eral pi'ivateers in this war, happened to be in 



1813-1814. KINDNESS TO ENGLISH PRISONERS. 319 

Charleston about tlie time the Dvcatur entered that 
port with her priz(% and, in conversation with the 
captors and ])risoners, hnirned many details of this 
action. He said: " Tlu^ sni'vivino- ofticers of the 
Dominica attribnttMl the loss of their vessel to the 
snperior skill of the Dceafurs crew in the use of 
mnsketry and to Captain Diron's adroit manner in 
manenvering his S(diooner during the action, which 
rendered the Englishman's carriage gnns in a man- 
ner almost nseless. It was acknowledged by the 
English prisoners that dnring their captivity they 
were treated with gi-eat kindness and hnnianity by 
Captain Diron, his officers and crew, and that the 
utmost care and attention were i:>aid to the sick and 
wounded. The cimmv of the captured vessel were 
all finedooking young men. There were among them 
eight or ten boys. To see this youthful crcMV on their 
arrival at Charleston in their mangled con<lition was 
enough to freeze the blood with horror of any per- 
son not accustomed to su(di sanguinary scenes. 
Among the crew was a small boy, not eleven years 
old, who was twice wounded while contending for 
victory on the deck of the Dominica. I saw daily one 
of the wounded English midshipmen with his arm 
in a sling, who had the ]ii'ivilege of walking about 
the city on his parole of honor."' 

The Dojiiiiiica subse<iuently was lifted out as a 
privateer, carrying four guns and thirty-six men, but 
on :\Iay 23, 1814, she was captured by the British 
slii]) <d' the line Majcxiic. In Xovember, 1813, the 
Decatur got to sea again, but after a cruise of eighty 
days she returned to Cliarleston without having 
taken one vessel. She made another ven,ture in this 
war, but was ca])tured June 5, 1811, by the British 
frigate Phiii oil" Mona I'assage, after a chase of 
eleven hours. 



CHATTEK VTTT. 

SOUTIIEKX PKIVATEKKS. 

In the War of 1812 tlic Soul hern ports, not iii- 
fhulino- Baltimore, sent out lliirty-six ])riYateers, 
several of whieli were emiiieiitly successful. The bril- 
liant achievement of the l><c<iliii\ in capturing a Brit- 
ish cruiser, has been narrated in the preceding- chap- 
ter. Tliese commerce destroyers of tlic South saih'd 
princi])ally from Norfollc, Wilmington (North Caro- 
lina), Charleston, Savannah, and New Orleans. Of 
the six hailing from Norfolk the 1-gun s(diooner 
(li(nic(\ Captain W. Dc^-ick, a vess(d of eighty-four 
tons; the 1-gnn schooner I'oid- FricinJs, Ca])tain T. 
K(H)kc, of forty-six tons; the 2-gun S(di(K)ner Fraiil-Iiii, 
ra])tain J. (Ih^nn, of twenty-three tons; and the 3-gun 
schooner (U'onjv WnsliiiKjIoii, Captain S. Sisson, seem 
to have accom]dished little or nothing. The Hash, 
as we have seen,' distinguished herself by taking th<' 
first ])rize of the war, tlu^ British Crov<*rnment 
scdiooner WhUiiKj, Lieutenant ^laxcey. 

The liOf/cr, a fine S(diooner of ten guns, com- 
manded by Ca])tain B. Quarles, sailed from Norf(dk 
late in ISi:^ or early in 1S14 with a complement of 
one hun<lred and twenty men. She made her first 
prize in January, the S(dioon(M' Ihiirj/, laden with 
fish, whi(di was sent into Charleston. About the 
same time the Roijcr captured the schooner Maria, 
and as she Avas of little value she was burned. In 



1 See p. 226. 
820 



1813-1814. NORFOLK AND WILMINGTON PRIVATEERS. 321 

May, 1814, the Roger took the valuable ship Fortiiiia, 
sailiu^' iiiider the Russian flag with Euglish property 
aboard. She was from Havana for Iliga with an 
assorted cargo, which was sent into Beaufort, South 
Carolina. In this cruise the Rof/cr made a prize of a 
brig laden with rum and sugar from Jamaica for 
England, which was sent into port. In the following 
August this privateer seized the schooner Contract, 
with a cargo of salt, which was sent into North Caro- 
lina, and in December of tlu^ same year she cai)tured 
the shi}) LWiiiKibIc, from Havana for England, under 
Spanish colors but with British property aboard. 
The seventh and last prize of this vessel was the 
packet Windsor (Uistlc, from Falmoutli for Halifax. 
She was armed with two long 9-pounders and eight 
short guns, and had on board nine passengers and a 
crew of thirty-two men. She was sent into Norf(dk.^ 

AVilmington, in the course of the war, sent out 
three privateers. The 5-guii schooner Haul-, Captain 
AV. H. Trippe, got to sea in ]March, 1811, with a com- 
])leinent of sixty-eiglit men. Slie made only one 
l)rize, the s( hooner Plurttv, laden with rum and mo- 
lasses, which was sent into the private(M''s home 
])ort. On April 20, 1814, tlu^ Ihiirk was ca]ttured by 
the British frigate Pique while off Silver Keys. An- 
other 5-gun schooner from Wilmington, the Loreli/ 
Lass, Captain J. Smith, of the United States navy, 
got to sea in 1813 with a comi)lement of sixty men, 
and in March sent into New Orleans a S(diooner 
valued at ten thousand dolhirs. On the following 
May 4tli this ])rivateer fell in with tln^ Britisli 
cruiser Cireee, and after a hard chase of nineteen 
hours, in which the privateer threw overboard four 
of her guns, she was taken. On this cruise the 
Loreli/ Lass had been out forty days. 

The fi-gun schooner l>^iiap Draf/oii, Captain E. Pas- 
teur (also commanded by Captains O. Burns and N. 



' For action between the Roger and tlie Highflyer see p. 453. 



322 SOUTHERN PRIVATEERS. 1812-1814. 

(Jraliani), Avas far more sncccssful than either of 
the above, taking two barks, live briiis, ami three 
schooners. In Angnst and September, 1(S13, she eap- 
tnred the brigs (iood Iiifriit, V(tnis\ and Ilappi/, the 
bark /itjirisal, and tlie schooner EHzdhcfh. All of 
these vessids were destroyed at sea after the more 
valnable ]>ortions of their cargoes had been taken 
out, exce]»t one which was giA'en \i\) to the prisoners. 
The KiKtp J)i-<i(/()ii also took the brig Ami, with a cargo 
of drvgocHls worth half a million d<dl;trs. These 
goods had been pnr(dias(Ml by American mere hants 
with the exixM'tation of smnggling them into the 
Unit(Ml States. In the following Se])tember the ^iiap 
Jh-uf/oii ca]itured the brig J(iii(\ whi( h, l)eing in bal- 
last, was given np to the prisont^-s. In Ajtril, 1814, 
this ])rivateer seiz(Ml two vesstds — the Ijiiiiicf, laden 
with hsh and oil, and another, a schooner with a 
cargo of mahogany, whi(di was sent into lU^uifort. 

New Orleans sent ont six ])rivateers, of which the 
Ingger f'oy7^ of fonr gnns and thirty men, nnder Cap- 
tain J. (Jeorge; the .*>-gnn schooner Tfonicf, Captain 
F. Thomas; the boat Joliii, Captain J. Coates; and the 
l-gnn S(diooner Yichn-ji, Captain J. Degres, accom- 
plished little or nolhing. The 4-gnu scdiooner ^pji. 
Captain Iv. I>elm he, having one hnndred men aboard, 
took the valuable shi]) 'June, laden with mahogany, 
wliiidi was sent into New Orleans. The 3-gnn 
S(diooner Tiro Friends, Captain II. Ferlat, seized the 
sloop yciiiis, of Jamaica, and destroyed her at sea. 

V\\i' armed craft were sent ont from Savannah, 
of which the 3-gnn scdiooner Afiis, Ca])tain T. M. 
N(nv(dl; the 1-gun felm-ca /?cc. Captain P. Masabeau; 
the 3-giin scdioonei' FlizaJxili, Captain \l. Cleary; and 
the 4-gnn schooner Mdria, Captain J. P>e(Mdier, made 
no captures of im])ortance. The 1-gun sidiooner 
Xoiip<ii-(il, Ca]»tain II. ^Fartin, seized a scdiooner, but 
the X()Hp<ii-('il herself was ca]dured by the Drcomrrfc 
on July 12, 1812. 

Charleston put into commission thirteen armed 



181 :i A HAPPY RECAPTURE. 323 

craft, besides those already mentioned. ?>evei*al 
of them met witli little if any success, anions" that 
(lass bein^- the l-ji;iin scdiooner ,W/roc(//r, Captain A. 
Dougle; the 2-<4un sloop lilocl'ddc, Captain J. (iraves; 
the schooner Fircfff/, Captain W. Clewlev; the 1-gun 
sloo]) Miiicrra, Captain J. Peters; and the 4-ij;nn 
sidiooner RerciK/c. The l'J(((/h', a schooner carrying; 
one gun and forty-five men, under Captain P. Lafete, 
captnred four schooners, one of which was armed 
with three gnns and was manned by twenty-fonr 
men. 

The 3-gnn schooner ff<i:(ir<l, Captain P. Le Char- 
tri(M', on L\^brnary 22, 1813, had an action with the 
P>i-itish ])rivat(M'r (UiUdoji'ta, the result of which was 
l)ecnliarly gratifying' to the Americans. It seems 
that two <lays befor<^ this the Ifazard captnred the 
valnabh' liritish ship AlJiioii, of twelve gnus and 
twenty-hve nn^i. This mercdiantman was from 
I)<'niei';ira for Ijomhtn, and had on board four hun- 
dred hogsheads of sugar, sixty-nine ])nncheons of 
rnm, ten bales of cotton, and thi*(M' hnndred bags 
and thirty-six casks of coffee. I'lacing' a ])rize cri^w 
aboard, with orders to make for ])ort, Ca])lain Le 
Chartrier resumed his cruise, snp])osing' that his prize 
was making- good headway toward the T^nitcMl States. 
On February 22d he f(dl in with the Calcdoiiid, hav- 
ing' the reca])tnred AlhUni in her company. The two 
privateers iniiiHMliately began an action whi( h re- 
sulted in the Englishman making' sail in flight and 
the second captnre of the Alhioii by the Hazard. '' If 
we had had half an honr more of daylight," wrote 
Le Chartrier, "I shonld have brought in this priva- 
teer." In this affair the fla.zard had seven men killed 
and the same unmber wonnded. The Caledonia is 
credited with six gnns and fifty men to the flazard'!^ 
three gnns and twenty-eight men. This was the 
only captnre made by the Hazard in tliis war. The 
Jjidji }fadis(ni, a s( hooner of one gnn and forty-five 
men, nnder Captain A. Garrison, took two prizes in 



324 SOUTHERN PRIVATEERS. 1812-18i:i 

the course of the war, one of which was given up 
to prisoners. 

The Jjorcli/ ConnUa, Captain P. Sicard, in Octo- 
ber, 1813, took sixteen prizes off Jamaica, all of 
which were destroyed at scni, excei)t one, whi(di was 
sent to the T^nittnl States, but was wrecktMl on the 
coast of Morida. The l-o'un schooncn' M(U\i/ Aiiit, 
also <M>ninianded by Cajdain Sicai'd and afterward 
by ('ai)tain J. P. (Miazid, took one shi}), two bri<j;s, 
and t\yo S(diooners. All of these ])rizes were armed, 
one \yitli twelye and anothei' with t(Mi liuns, ea(di 
of which carried sey(Mit<MMi men. On May 5, 1813, 
the Mart/ Aim was ca]»tur('d by the 18-:Liun sloop of 
war Siippliirc, one of tlu^ Americans beinii, killed in 
the chase. The l-jnun l*()<tr Sailor, Oaj)tain P. l^aiddiu, 
and the 1-jiun schooner Jxapid, Captains J. Prinidiett, 
W. Saund(n'son, etc., had moderate success. The 
former, thoui^h of only forty-four tons, captured a 
ship laden with rum. The J'oor Hailof was lost at 
sea in 1813. The /'apid seized a shi]), a briji', and 
two s<diooners. The shi]) was tlu^ H.vpcr'n'iicc, with a 
cari;<) worth a (piartcr of a million dollars. One of 
the S(dioonei's was the S(<ii-cli(i\ of one m'un and 
twenty men, whi< h was luirned. One of the brigs 
was ransomed. 

By far tlie most successful of tlie ])riyateers that 
sailed for Oharleston in this war was the G-gun 
S(diooner Sniicj/ J<icJx\ Oaptain J. P. Ohazid. This ves- 
sel was painted black, with a white streak along her 
side to distinguish Ikh*. While lying in Charleston 
harbor, xVugust, 1812, preparatory to getting to sea, 
some person or persons spiked her guns. A reward 
of three hundred dollars was offered for the appre- 
hension of the p(M'petrators of the act, but without 
avail. This craft took in all six shi]is, six brigs, 
nine scdiooners, and two sloops. In September she 
arrived in th<^ St. Clary's from her third cruise, in 
whi( h she had capturcMl the Thnv Sisters and the 
shij) I-jHz(1, of ten guns, laden with flour and beef. 



181:5-1814. GATiLANT DEFENSE OP THE PELIIAM. 325 

Oil Aniiiist ITth she took the ship Laura, laden with 
coffee, and tlie Thrir Bntihvrs, eaidi mounting ten 
guns. Shortly- after the Laura had becMi talcen pos- 
session of bv the American prize crew she was 
chased by tlie British sloop of war PvrurUin. To 
prevent their i)rize from falling into the hands of 
the enemy Ihe American fired the Laura and took 
to their boats, ultimately arriying in the United 
States. The Pcriiruni subsequently^ was wrecked on 
Silver Keys. In December, 1813, the Saiici/ Jack 
made a short crnise, in which she captured the brig 
Affile-'^ and the slooj) John, the privateer arriving at 
Chai'leston December 20tli of the same year. 

Early in 1814 this boat got to sea on her fourth 
venture, in whicli she ma<le her most valuable prize, 
the PcIIkdh, the following account of which was for- 
warded to the Secretary of the Navy: '' Tharleston, 
^lay 21, 1814. — Arrived at this ]»ort yc^sterday the 
large and elegant shi]) Pclham (lat(^ Captain Boyd), 
Alexand(M' Taylor, ])rize master, ]»riz(^ to the priva- 
te<'r Saii<\i/ JacJ:, ('a]dain ('hazel, of this port.^ The 
PclIiaiH was cai)tured on the 30tli of April off Cape 
Xocola ^Fole after a well-contested action of upward 
of two hours. She was finally carried by boarding, 
after her crew had made a stout and gallant resist- 
ance of from ten to fifteen minutes on her own 
decks. We learnt on board that th(^ oflficers and 
crew of the rdJiaiii ludiaved throughout the action in 
the most heroic manner, and did not yi(dd until 
actually overpowered by numbers. The Saiiri/ Jack 

' Ilor r.'ircfo oonsisied of (lrvo;n(Kls, linrdwarc, etc., as follows: One 
liuiidrcd and niiict yd'niir ]iacl<aL;-es dfyi,'-c"ids. coiisistiii.ij of India (diceks 
and striprs, fjnrralis, iMiiials, seiM'sm-kcrs, hodficks, gincfliains, calicoes, 
shawls. ^Madras and ^lalaliar liandkcrcliiid's. Ii'ish linens, lawn, sliirtinijs, 
brown linen, duck, sheetiiijis, osnal)nru:s. l»a.i;;irin,c:, s1kh>s, boots, saddlerv, 
etc , lliree hundred packages sundries, consistint;- of iiai'dware. f^lassware, 
mustard iiickles. sauces, jiresei'ves. porter, ale "Madcir.-i ;ind sherry wines, 
white lead, ])aints. <;-un]iowdcr, linseed oil, <;lue, ochre, twines, seines, 
hats, etc. ; one or<;an and one pianoforte. 



326 SOUTHERN PRIVATEERS. 1814. 

had her first officer and one man killed and the sec- 
ond officer, captain of arms, and seven men wounded. 
On board the PeJham were fonr killed and eleven 
wonnded; among the latter was Captain Boyd, dan- 
gerously, in the breast. He, with the passengers, 
was landed at Port-au-Prince. The Pclluun was 
from London bound to Port-au-Prince, and sailed 
from Portsmouth on the 9th of JNIarch with the same 
convoy, of which we have already had accounts from 
as having arrived at Halifax and bringing London 
dates to the 7th of ]March. Of course she brings 
nothing new. The day previous to her capture she 
had an engagement Avith two Carthaginian priva- 
teers, whi(di she succeeded in beating off, but the 
courage and perseverance of the officers and crew 
of the Hdiicji J (id- were not so easily overcome. This 
is another honorable si^ecimen of the bravery and 
good conduct of American seamen. We hardly recol- 
lect to have seen a finer ship than the PvJhum. She 
is five hundred and forty tons, coppered to the bends, 
mounts ten 12-pounders and G-pounders and had a 
compleuK^nt of from thirty-five to forty men, exclu- 
sive of several passengers. She is almost new, this 
being her second voyage, and is in every way fitted 
the most complete of any merchant ship that has 
entercMl our port for a long time. Iler cabin is hung 
round with a great variety of large and elegant 
colored naval prints in ri(di gilt frames, among 
which was a representati(ni of the engagement be- 
tween the (li(s(ip<(iJ,-c and the HJkuukhi in two views. 
During her skirmish with the HaucjiJacl; an 18-pound 
shot from the long tom found its way through the 
shi]>'s side and demolished on<' of its views, with sev- 
eral others." On the 31st of October, 1814, the Prit- 
ish boml) ship ]'<)]c(i)in. Lieutenant Price, and the 
transports (1 olden llcccc and Hdhilioo, with some two 
hundred and fifty English scddiers on board, fell in 
with this doughty privateer of Charleston. At that 
time the vessels were off the west end of San Do- 



1814. SAUCY JACK NEARLY CAUGHT. 3t>7 

niiniio. Captain ('hazel had been criiisinjii; in tliis 
vicinity with a little tender called the PdcJycf when 
he discovered the English vessels. He gave (diase, 
and, nn<ler the impression that they were mere liant- 
nien, he tired, abont one o'chxdv on the following 
morning, three shots from his long tom, which fire 
1 he \'()lc<ni() returned, at the same time shortening- 
sail with her consorts so as to allow the andacions 
Amei'ican to come up. The wind was light ami the 
darkness rendered it difficnlt to make ont the exact 
foi'ce of the strangers. At six o'<do<dv in the morn- 
ing the vess(ds were within half gnnshot. It was 
tlien that (''a])tain Cliazel discovi^-ed that one of the 
shi])s monnted sixteen gnns and the other eighteen; 
bnt, as they did not appear to be well manned, he 
(hdermined ujxtn an attacdv. At seven o'ldock he 
showed his colors and began an action with the VoJ- 
cdiio, that craft being nearest to him. Following the 
favorite tactics of American privateersmen, Captain 
('hazel lost no time in getting alongside the enemy, 
and ])repared to board on her port beam. 

.Inst as the Americans were abont to spring to 
(he enemy's de(d<s Captain Cliazel snddenly discov- 
ered that the stranger was fnll (►f soldiei'S. The 
or(l(M' recalling boarders was promptly given, and 
the Sniici/ JdcJc sheered off and made all sail to 
escape. Two (d' tlu^ English shi]>s, the ]'()lc<iii(> and 
the dohlcii Fleece, gave chase, and maintained a 
s])irited lire for nearly an lionr, when, finding that 
they were losing gronnd, they desisted. When the 
l>^(iiiei/ .lack was (dose to them the British soldiers 
])onred in a destrnctive fire of mnsketry, killing eight 
and wonnding fifteen of the Americans. The i)riva- 
teer also was somewhat cut n]) in her linll, spars, 
and rigging. The enemy had three men kilh'd, in- 
( Inding Lieutenant W. 1*, I'^ntzen, and tw<> nieu 
^^•onn(h'd. 



CHAPTER IX. 

CAREER OF THE AMERICA. 

Of tlie forty privateers sent out from Salem in 
the War of 1812, the Aincrica, with tlie possible ex- 
ception of the (lidiid Turk, was the most successful. 
She is re])nte(l to have been the fastest sailing; craft 
atioat (lurin<4' that strnj;*;le, and her numerous 
escapes from British cruisers seem to bear out this 
re])utation. She was a 350-ton craft, built in 1804, 
and usually carried tweut,y i»uns and a complement 
of one hundred and fifty men. In this war she made 
twenty-six prizes, and the pro])erty taken from them 
and broui;ht safely into port realized one million one 
hundred thousand dollars, while the amount of prop- 
erty she destroyed at sea would be represented by 
a much laroer ti<^ure. She thus proved to be a veri- 
table " <>()ld mine " for her owners, the Messrs. 
George Crowninshield & Sons. 

This vessel frequently has been confused with 
the privateer Anivnva, which was commissioned by 
John Adams in 1802, and made one cruise before 
hostilities with France ceased. The Crowninshields 
to(dv a prominent part in the stru<>'^le for American 
independence. Captain Benjamin Crowninshield hav- 
ino' fought in the battle of Bunker Hill. 

It was always tlu* p,()od fortune of the Anuvica to 
l>e commanded by the ablest captain that could be 
had, to whi(di circumstance, doubtless, is largely 
due her uniform success. Jos(^i)h IJopes, one of the 
best-known "sea dogs" in his day, had charge of 

338 



1812. OFF ON ITER FIRST CRUISE. 329 

this privateer on her maiden cruise, in 1812, while 
on her tliird and fourth ventures she was com- 
manded by James Chever, Jr., who also was said to 
liave been " as slick a skipper as ever gave slip to a 
British frigate." The Aiiicricn returned from her 
third cruise witli twelve prizes and fifty prisoners. 

In her essays against British commerce the 
Aiiicricd demonstrated what a terrible scourge a 
well equipped and manned commerce destroyer 
could be in the hands of a bold, skillful, and adroit 
commander. " She started on her first cruise from 
Salem Monday morning, September 7, 1812, at half 
])ast eleven o'clock," so her log reads. By noon she 
rea<-hed Baker's Island, and shortly afterward she 
was bowling along the ocean swells in quest of prey. 
The inauspicious omen of an accident at the begin- 
ning of the cruise — so potent with most sailors — 
did not seem to have seriously affected the gallant 
tars in this well-named craft, notwithstanding the 
additional significance of the accident occurring on 
Friday. 

On Friday, September 11th, when the ship's com- 
])any had scarcely begun to get well br(dven into their 
new surroundings, the main t(q)mast was carried 
away, and the five ukmi who were on it at the time 
were thrown inio the s<m. The accid(Mit happened in 
a heavy gale, these men having been sent up to make 
snug. The ship was promptly sent round, a boat 
lowered, and, after much risk and danger from the 
swaini»iug of the boat, the sailors were rescued. All 
hands wer<' called and set to work repairing the 
damage and in a few hours the wreck was cleared, 
a now s])ar sent u]) and rigged, and the good ship 
again was boimdiug along the ocean. About 5.30 
A. M. AVcMlncsday, September 23d, the Aiiicrica sighted 
a sail, and after a short chase captured the Britisli 
brig Jduics (iiid Cluirhtifc, commanded by a ^Ir. Lavitt, 
from Liverpool bound for St. John's. Tier hold 
was found to be well sto(d<ed with hats, drygoods, 



330 CAREER OF THE AMERICA. • 1812. 

coal, etc., and as the Americans stood in need of 
these articles they decided to take them. Mr. Tib- 
betts, with six men, was placed aboard the brig as 
a prize master, with orders to make for the nearest 
American port. He brought the brig safely into 
Salem. 

Captain Ropes was one of those commanders 
who believed that lighting was not a happy-go-lucky 
operation, but a science, which by constant exercise 
could be reduced to the nicest perfection. He there- 
fore employed much of his spare time between 
chases in exercising his men at the great guns and 
in rai)id drills with small arms. The result was that, 
although his seamen were not uniformed and had 
served together only a short time, they soon became 
as dexterous in these matters as the most exacting 
man-of-warsinan could desire. 

Passing the island (►f St. ^Michael October 5th, 
Captain Ropes did not see a sail of note until a 
month afterward. At 4 r. m. Friday, November 6th, 
a stranger was reported to the south, and the Amer- 
ica promptly wore round and gave chase. After a 
hard sail the stranger was brought to and boarded. 
She was found to be the British brig Bciijaui'ui, bound 
for England from Newfoundland, under the com- 
mand of James Collins. Taking the mate, with seven 
men, aboard the Auirrica, and leaving Collins, one 
man, and a boy aboard the Benjamin, Captain Ropes 
resumed his cruise, after placing Joseph Dixon, and 
eight men, aboard the brig as a prize master, with 
instructions to make the most available port in 
America north of Nantucket. 

The second week after this the Anuriea had an 
exciting chase lasting nearly two days. Early on 
the morning of N(>vember 18th a sail was reported 
to the northwest, and Captain Ropes promptly let 
out two reefs from the topsails, in spite of the stiff 
gale blowing at the time, and, setting his main top- 
gallant sail, gave chase. All that night the stranger 



1812. A HARD STERN CHASE. 331 

led the Yankee a hard stem chase, and at times dis- 
appeared from view altogether, but by keeping- a 
sharp lookout, and with the aid of night glasses, the 
Americans inanagtMl to keep tracd-c of her. It was 
not until tlie afternoon of the fcdlowiug day that the 
chase was overtaken and brought to. t^lie had 
proved to be a remarkably fast-sailing craft, and 
had given the America all she wanted to do in coming 
up with her. Captain liopes found his ])rize to be 
the Ixdipli NicJcci'.soit, of and for London from 
(Quebec, laden witli lumber and having an armament 
of eight guns. John Procter and elev(^n men were 
placed aboar<l, and succecMled in running her into 
]Marbleh(Md. 

Early on the morning of tlie following Tuesday, 
November 24th, the Auk rial made another sail, and 
by nine o'(dock found her to b(^ tlie British 12-gun 
ship lli)p(\ from St. Tliomas for (ilasgow, laden with 
sugar, I'um, and cotton. Tliis i)r()v<Ml to be the most 
valuable prize thus far tlie i)rivateer had taken, 
and ('a])tain IJopes placed twelve men, under Joseph 
Valpey, in (diarge of her, with orders to make for the 
United States. L'rom tlie master of the //o/>r the 
Americans learned that she liad h'ft a fleet of forty- 
five merchantmen only three days before, which Avere 
under the convoy of the sloo])s of war liiiu/dore and 
^coriiioii. As tlie Aiiicricd herself Avas a ])retty good 
match for a sloop of Avar singly, Captain IJopes Avas 
not averse to meeting one of these cruisers, al- 
thougli, of course, he preferred capturing llie mer- 
(diantmen under their escort. At all events, he made 
sail in the direction of the fleet, hoping to meet the 
enemy. 

Late in the afternoon of the folloAving day a sail 
Avas discovered to the south standing easterly. 
Chase Avas promptly giA^en, and Avith such success 
that Avithin an hour a shot from one of the America'.'^ 
guns induced the stranger to heave to. She was the 
British brig Dart, caiTAing eight guns, also one of 



332 CAREER OP THE AMERICA. 1812. 

the great fleet of merchantmen. Her cargo, like 
the Hope's, consisted principally of rum and cotton. 
The America's boat, in returning from the brig with 
Mr. Sparhawk and Thomas Fuller and five prisoners, 
unfortunately got under the privateer's counter and 
foundered. The two American officers and three of 
the prisoners were saved, but the other prisoners 
were drowned. Captain Ropes kept in sight of this 
prize all that and the following day, but as there 
were no further signs of the great fleet he, at 3.30 
p. M., November 2Tth, signaled the brig to bear down 
under his lee. This being done, Anthony D. Caulfield, 
with eight men, was placed aboard the Dart as the 
prize master and sailed for the United States, after 
all of the brig's people, excepting the captain, a pas- 
senger, and one man, had been transferred to the 
privat('(M'. The J)<ui safely arrived at Salem. 

Finding that several of his officers and a number 
of the crew were attacked with a very troublesome 
inflammation of the eyes, Avhich could not be ac- 
counted for and which seemed to be contagious, Tap- 
tain IJopes determined to return to the United 
States. ITis sujtply of water also was getting so low 
that he was compelled to curtail the allowance to 
three and a half pints every twenty-four hours for 
a man. Even on her homeward i»assage the Atiicfiea 
was attended with good fortune. Early on the 
morning of Dt'cember lOth, when near the Western 
Isles, a sail was descried to the southeast, and the 
]»rivateer made all sail in chase. By eight o'(dock 
the stranger was seen to be a brig steering east- 
ward, apparently anxious to avoid the America. 
This only whetted the desire of the Yankees to get 
alongside, and by eleven o'chxdi they had the chase 
under tlieir guns. She was the English brig Eu- 
plicinia, of Glasgow, bound for Gibraltar from La 
Guayra, with four hundred thousand ])ounds of coffee 
aboard. She cari-ied ten guns and was manned by 
twenty-five men, under the command of John Gray. 



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Fufsiinili' (n-dHrcii) of a poj/f^ in fin' AuH^riru's lof/ kept iJiniiif/ her 



third cnii/i 



1813. HER SECO^^D CRUISE. 38;>, 

The next day Captain Ropes took the first and 
second officers, twenty-one men, and eight guns 
from his prize, and placing on board of her Archi- 
bald S. Dennis, with eleven men, as a prize master, 
resumed his course for the United States. The 
Kuphvmia in due time reached Portland, ^Maiue. Tlie 
A)ii(ric(i arrived in Salem harbor on the afternoon of 
January 7, 1813, having completed a highly success- 
ful cruise of one hundred and twenty-two days. Tier 
six prizes were valued at one hundred and fifty-eight 
thousand dollars. 

This privateer got to sea again for her second 
cruise in January, 1813, and returned to Bath, ]Main<\ 
in Jul}^ of the same year, having made ten prizes. 
Of these two were ordered to France, three arrived 
in American i)orts, two were recaptured, and three 
were converted into cartels so as to *^L't rid of th(^ 
prisoners, of whom one hundred and thirty were pa- 
roled and thirty were brought into port. One of 
these prizes was the American ship *^7. Lairrcitcr, of 
New York, which had on board a full cargo of British 
goods from Liverpool, and on her arrival in Ports- 
mouth, New Hampshire, both ship and goods were 
condemned. 

We g(4 some idea of the peculiar excitement at- 
tending the ventures of privateers on the high seas 
by looking over the cargoes captured by the America 
in her second and third cruises, in the latter ven- 
ture the ])i'ivateer being credited with twelve prizes. 
A\'e have first the 220-ton brig Murf/arcf, of ten guns, 
having one thousand hogsheads of salt aboard, from 
Cadiz bound for NeAvfouudland, which was carried 
into Salem; the 300-ton brig Horcrcu/ii, of aud for 
Liver])ool, with an assorted cargo, which was sold 
ill Portsmouth, New Hampshire; the brig />ro///rr.v, 
A\liir]i was sent into Fuenterrabia, Spain, and sold 
tliere by the consent of the officials; the 250-tou brig 
Apol'ii, (»r Poole, AA'ith one thousand hogsheads of 
salt, which shared the fate of the Manjartt', the 



334 CAREER OP THE AMERICA. 1813-1815. 

schooner Hope, from St. Andrews for Barbadoes, 
laden with lumber, beef, and oil; and the schooner 
^i/lph, of Liverpool, Nova Scotia, with fish, oil, etc. 
Several prizes were destro3'ed at sea, and a number 
were released so as to f>et rid of prisoners. In this 
cruise the America, commanded by James Cliever, 
Jr., left Bath December 3, 1813, and returned to 
Portsmouth April, 1811. 

In her last cruise in this war the America had a 
battle with an Enij;lish privateer. The Yankees 
sailed from port early in November, 1814, and made 
directly for European waters. On January 22, 1815, 
she took the schooner Arrcjic, from Catalonia for Lon- 
don, havini[i^ on board one hundred casks of almonds 
and one thousand six hundred and fifty casks of 
hazelnuts, the prize beiu"^ sent into Salem. About 
the same time the Arnerica took the valuable brig 
Aderjiia, with four hundred and fifty bales of broad- 
cloth, which also was sent into Salem. One of the 
A))ierica''fi prizes, the schooner Tlii.sfJe, was recap- 
tured I\larch 19, 1815, while off Cape Sable, by the 
British sloop of war CossacJ:; but on being sent into 
Halifax the Thistle was restored to the Americans, 
as her recapture had taken place after the time limit 
set by the tr-eaty. 

It was in INfnrch that the Atnerlea came across the 
English privateer Elhaheth, a ship carrying eight 
guns and thirty-one men. The advantages in weight 
of metal and number of guns and men were so much 
in favor of the Americans that in twenty minutes 
the Englishmen surrendered, but not without mak- 
ing a gallant defense, in which two of their men 
were kilhMl and thirteen wounded. So rapid and 
effective was the America'fi gunnery that, in the 
brief time the actual fighting lasted, the Elhahcth 
had seven hundred sliot holes — including grape, 
canister, and musket shots — in her hull, spars, and 
sails. After depriving her of her armament the 
Americans returned the prize to her surviving 



1815. 



AGAINST A BRITISH PRIVATEER. 



335 



people, as, being in ballast, she was of little value 
to her captors. 

Some of the other i)i'izes taken by the Anurica 
in this cruise were the schooner Hirift and the brig 
I'Jufvr prise. The Enterprise, on her passage to Amer- 
ica, was overtaken b}^ a severe storm, and was com- 




iwiiL'il hy (icoi-o-e Crowninsliield i^ Sdiis, tlie 

most noted Salciu privateer. 

From an old piiintiiig owned by W. S. f'hevcr, son of Captain Janies \V. ChoviT, 
who conimandt'd the America. 

]»('1](m1 to put into Fayal in distress, where she was 
condemned. The following vessels were destroyed 
at sea by the Anierieti: the scliooner Roherf, tlu^ sloop 
J iiliilce, th(^ cutter /tiisi/, and the schooner JiJacJ: Joke. 
Th(^ Aiiieriai arrived at Salem from her last ven- 
ture, Ai)ril 10, 1Sir>, after a cruise of one hundred and 
thirty-four days. In the course of the war she 
netted her owners six hundred thousand dollars. 
On the close of hostilities slie was tied U]) at Crown- 
iusliield's wharf, wliere slx' remained a number of 
years. In June, 1831, she was sold at auction and 
broken up. 



CHAPTER X. 

A TYPICAL ntn^lTEERSMAN. 

Ox October 20, 1813, tlie American privateer 
David Porter was lying at Providence, IMiode Island, 
taking in an assorted cargo for Charleston, South 
Carolina. As lier name implies, she was not one of 
the first privateers to get to sea, for Cai)tain Por- 
ter did not make his great name in naval history 
until he went on his celebrated cruise around Cape 
Horn and devastated British commerce in the Pa- 
cific, and that was in 1813-'14. The privateer which 
bore his name had been one (►f our famous, swift- 
sailing pilot boats, and on being converted into a war 
craft carried a long 18-pounder amidships and four 
(>-pounders — a somewhat light arnmuKMit, but, not- 
withstanding, a serviceable one, as will be seen. Her 
commander, Ceorge Coggeshall, was one of the 
ablest captains in the privateer sc^'vice. He came 
from go(»d New England stock, and had no superior 
in the art of " handling men."' It was the good for- 
tune of this craft to be officered largely by men who 
had served in the regular navy, for at that time the 
United States 44-gun frigate PresUJeiit, Captain John 
liodgers, had come to this port after a long cruise, 
and some thirty of her petty officers and seamen 
enlisted in the David Porter. 

Having finished loading. Captain Coggeshall 
dropped down the river to Newport, where he waited 
for a favorable opportunity to get to sea. So great 
had been the terror ins]»ired by American frigates 

336 



1813. THE DAVID PORTER GETS TO SEA. ;>;>7 

ill this war that wheiievor one of them was known 
to be in port tlie British promptly stationed several 
sliips of the line and fri_iiates for the express ])nr- 
pose of keepiiiji' her there. Sncdi was the case with 
tlie President, and when Captain ( 'o^oeshall reached 
Ne\v])ort he fonnd that it would be extreimdy haz- 
ardons to run the blocdcaih^ 

])etermiiie<l, however, to ^ct to sea at any risk, 
Caj)tain (N>ii-,i;(^shall waited for a dark, boisterous 
ni<iht, when he c<uild trust to his superior knowledge 
of the coast and the cover of the iiioht to elude the 
enemy. Such an oi)portunity was afforded Novem- 
ber 14th, when towai-d evcMiino- a .genuine New Eng- 
land snowstorm, from tlie northeast, caused the 
British officers to liiijier over their porter and cheese 
lon<i<'r than usual, and discouraii'ed all atteini)ts to 
kee]) the decd^. The shrewd Yank(M' skii)])er un- 
doubtedly was aware of this weakness of his British 
cousins, and riiihtly jndiiini;' that most of them would 
be shiveriii<>' in llieir bunks or hamnuxdcs, and tlial 
the watch on deck would be more anxiously secdcinj;' 
the lee side of a mast or cabin than wat(diin_n' for 
American frijiates, he boldly stood out to sea and 
passed the hostile ships unchallenged. 

On the run to Charleston the Darid Parfer was 
cliased several times by British cruisers, for our 
coast was swarminin- with craft of tliat ilk, but in 
each instance she manaj^'ed to escape. On Novenib<'r 
2(»tli, however, the i)rivateer had a chase that was 
too close to be pleasant. At daybreak, beiuii," in ten 
falhoms of water off Ca])e Bomain, Ca])tain Coii'U'e- 
sliall discovered a I)ritisli hv'i'j; of war just out of i^uu- 
shol off liis weather bow which ])romj)tly uave (diase. 
The wind at the time was off the land, and the Brit- 
ish ke]>t to windward, ho]»inii' to force the ])rivateer 
leeward. Just out of si^lit of Charleston bar were 
stationed two more of the enemy's bri^s of war, and 
it was the ]Hir])ose of th<^ commander of the brii;' 
first discovei-ed to drive the chase into the open 



388 A TYPICAL PRIVATEERSMAN. 18i:}. 

arms of his consoi'ts. Aware of the trap that was 
beinii' so nicely arranged for him, Captain Cogge- 
shall resolved to ling the wind, pnsh boldly for the 
channel at the bar, and defend himself from attack 
Ihe best he conld. Knowing that this was his only 
chance of escape, the American skippc^r held steadily 
on his conrse, the enemy making streunous efforts 
to get within striking distance. 

For fonr lionrs the vessels bowed nnder a press 
of canvas, the advantage being slightly with the 
l)riyateer, whcMi the latter gained the bar and waited 
for the leading brig to come within gnnshot. In a 
few minntes the l)<ir'ul Porivr let go her long tom, 
and with sn(di good aim that it strn<dv the water 
near the I>riton and threw spray over his port 
qnartcr. The brig, being armed with short gnns, 
conld not retni-n the compliment withont coming to 
nincli closer qnarters, and this her commander has- 
tily decided to do; for abont that time the famons 
American ]n'ivateers Drvulur, Captain Diron, and 
.\(Jcluii\ Ca])tain \\. Craycrcdt, cann^ down Charleston 
harbor in gallant style, ready to join the David Por- 
ter in a general tight with the brigs. The enemy, 
])robably overestimating the force of the Americans, 
l)roniptly scjnared theii- yards and ran to leeward. 
The Dccdiur had recently arrived in Charleston after 
her brilliant victory over the I^ritish war ship Do- 
iiiuilcd} Proceeding np the harbor while th(^ Dccdtiir 
an<l the Adiihw stood to sea (tn another crnis<^. Cap- 
tain Coggeshall nnloaded, and obtaining a fnll cargo 
sailed, I)ec<Mnl)er 20, 1S1;^>, for ]]ordeanx, France. 

As showing the profits and risks of ])rivateering 
at tliat time, it will be noted that tlic Ihirid J'tDicr 
had on board three hnndred and thirty-one bales of 
cotton at twenty-six cents a ])onnd, with five per 
cent. "• ]>rimag(\" The gross freight and primage 
on this cotton was twenty-three thonsand dollars, 

I 1 See i)p. :511-319. 



1813. A SLIPPERY PRIZE. 339 

which, considering that she was a vessel of only 
two hundred tons, seems like an enormous freight 
on sea island cotton, which article at that time 
could be purchased for twelve or thirteen cents a 
pound. But this charge for freight, when the enor- 
mous expense of running a privateer, with her large 
crew, is considered, was not exorbitant. Marine 
insurance had risen to fifteen and even twenty per 
cent., and seamen's wages were thirty dollars a 
month. 

One of the risks incurred by privateers was well 
illustrated when the Darul Porter was ready to sail. 
This was on December 18th, but adverse winds de- 
tained hci'. Meantime Captain Coggeshall learned 
that Congress was ex]»('cted at any moment to de- 
clare an embargo. Sliould the i)rivateer be caught 
in port when this new move of the Government was 
made it would result in the bankruptcy of the 
owners of the vessel and her officers. Determined to 
avoid detention in port. Captain Coggeshall kept his 
crew confined to the ship and dropped down the 
harbor as far as possible so as to watch for the first 
favorable o]i]iortunity to get to sea. This occurred 
December 20th, and aided by a fine breeze the David 
Porter made a good run off the coast. 

Nothing worth noting occurred until about 4 P. m. 
December 2Ttli, when, in a strong northwest gale, 
the privateer fell in with a small English vessel from 
Jamaica bound for Nova Scotia. As the seas were 
too violent to permit boarding. Captain Coggeshall 
ord(U'ed the prize to follow him on his course, intend- 
ing to examine her more closely when favored with 
better weather. The Englishmen reluctantly obeyed, 
and as night came on showed a disposition to edge 
away. Thereupon the Americans hailed, and in 
pretty shar]) language told the British master that 
if he continued to lag behind, or did not carry all the 
sail his brig could bear, he would feel the effects 
of the DurUJ Porter's stern guns. This admonition 



;3J:0 A TYPICAL PRIVATEERSMAN. 1813-1814, 

had tlic (lesircnl effect, but at iiii(lnij;iit it suddenly 
came ou very dark and squally, so that Captain 
Coooeshall lost all trace of his first prize, nor did he 
see her a<;ain. 

From this time the David Porter scarcely descried 
a sail until she entered the Bay of Biscay. KnoAving 
that several En<j;lish war ships were stationed off 
the Bordeaux Lii>lit, Captain Coogeshall decided 
not to enter the Garonne, but to run for La Teste. 
About a week before reaching that port she was 
overtaken by a terrific gale, which b(\gan earl3^ on 
the morning of January 19, 1814, and continued 
througli the following day. By eight o'clock in the 
moriiing of the first day it blew with the force of 
a hurricane, which raised a dangerous cross sea. 

Ca})tain Coggeshall hove to under double-reefed 
foresail, lowered his foreyard near the deck, and 
made everything as tight as i)ossib]e. About noon 
a tremendous Avave struck tlie Darid Porter just 
abaft the starboard fore shrouds, crushing in one 
of the stancliions, and split open tlie ]dank-sheer 
so that it was possible to see into the h(dd. Tlie at'S- 
S(d was throAvn nearly on her beam ends, avIh^m^ for 
some time it was uncertain Avlu'tlier she Avould right 
herself or continue to go OA'er. Fortuilately her 
foresail split ami the lee bulwark Avas torn aAvay by 
the water. Being relieA^ed of this pressure the A^essel 
gradually righted, but her people had become so 
alarmed for her safety that Iavo of her lee guns were 
throAvn oA'<'rboard, togetlun' Avith some Avater casks. 

After nailing tarred cauA'as an<l leather over the 
broken plank-shet'i- Captain Coggeshall got ready to 
veer ship, fearing that the injury the schooner had 
receiA'ed might affect the foremast. A small piece 
of the mainsail accordingly Avas got in readiness 
for hoisting, and then, keeping her before the Avind 
for a fcAV minutes, they Avatched for a favorable 
op])ortunity to bring her to the Avind on the other 
tack. 



1814. IN A TERRIFIC GALE. 34I 

Durini;- tlie tiiiH' she was riiiiiiiii^- before the wind, 
so her officers deehire, she a])peai'ed to leap from oue 
wave to another. Captain Co<;<>esliall brought his 
craft up to the wind on tlie other tack without acci- 
dent, and under a small i)iece of canvas she lav to, 
waitinjj; for tlie wind to subside. Fearino' that he 
might ship another sea, Captain Coggeshall pre- 
pared a novel device for " anchoring "' the head 
of his ship to th<^ wind. Taking a square sail boom, 
spanned at eaidi end with a four-in<di rope, and witli 
the small bower cable made fast to the bight of the 
span, the other end being made fast to the foremast, 
the boom was thrown overboard and was run out 
some sixty fathoms. The effect was miraculous. 
The boom broke the force of the waves and kept the 
scdiooner's head to the sea, so that she rode like a 
gull until the storm abated. It was not until after- 
noon of the following day that the Darid Porter 
again made sail, and six days later she made La 
Teste, thirty-six days from Charleston. 

Arriving at this port Ca])tain Coggeshall learned 
that a large number of vessels had foundered in the 
gale which so nearly ended his career, an<l that the 
coasts for miles w^ere strewn with wr(M'ks. Five 
English transports had been thrown ashore near 
La Teste, most of their people perishing. 

La Teste proved to be a miserable village witli 
little or no facilities for supplying ships. Besides 
this th(^ people were greatly excited by the ap- 
proacli of the alli(Hl forces to Paris and the advance 
of Lord W(dlingtoirs army toward Bordeaux, only 
thirty mih^s from La Teste. Smdi being the unset- 
tl(Ml state of affairs. Captain Coggeshall found great 
diriiciilty in dis])osing (tf liis cargo or in securing 
sn])])lies for another cruise, r^urtherniore, it was 
ex])('c1cd that the I^nglish would seize ]>ordeaux and 
La Teste, in which case the career of the Darid Porter 
would probably be cut shoi't. Proceeding to Bor- 
deaux on horseback Captain Coggeshall finally in- 



3-1-2 A TYPICAL PRIVATEERSMAN. 1S14. 

diiced bis consignees to purchase for him one hun- 
dred casks of wine and fifty pipes of brandy, wbicli 
they were to send in a small coasting;' vessel to La 
Rocbelle, there to be taken aboard the Darid Porter. 
This port was selected as it was strongly fortified 
and i)i'()bably would hold out longer than Bordeaux. 
All the American vessels had left the latter place, 
and were at the mouth of the Garonne waiting for 
an ()])p(>rtun)ty to sail for the United States or La 
Kochelle. 

Eeturning to La Teste Captain Coggeshall made 
strenuous though futile efforts to secure enough 
su])pli<\s for his vessel, the solitary baker in the place 
being able to furnish only two bags of bread for a 
slii]) having a com])l(Mnent of thirty-five healthy men. 
It was here that Captain Coggeshall learned of the 
capture of Bordeaux by the English, and he had 
reason to congratulate himself on his forethought in 
nmking La Teste rather than Bordeaux. But even 
his efforts to get away from La Teste before that 
l)lace should be seized by the English were stub- 
bornly combated by the weather and an obstinate 
pilot. AVinds and tides frustrated all endeavors to 
make an ofting until March l^^>th, when the pilot de- 
clartMl that five o'clock in the afternoon would be 
the time to cross the bar. Every minute the Ameri- 
cans expected to see British colors hoisted over tlie 
town and their shi]) made a [)rize, and as the hours 
dragged along to the time mentioned by the pilot 
they anxiously scanned the ap]n"oaches to the vil- 
lage and harbor. At four o'cbxdc Captain Cogge- 
shall requested the pilot to i^i^t under' way, but it was 
then learned that the pilot was unwilling to go out 
at all, fearing that he might be carri(Ml to America, 
so that his wife and family would be left unpro- 
vided for. 

"Captain," he said, "if we should succeed in 
getting out it would be impossible to land me." 

In vain did Captain Coggeshall assure him that 



1814. CLEVER ESCAPE FROM A FRIGATE. ;;4,;> 

he wonkj cruise in the viciuit}' a week if neressary 
ill order to land the pilot if he would only take the 
shij) over the bar. In vain did he show how tlie 
J)(ir}(] PorUr niiiiht become a prize of the British at 
any moment, and e(]ua]lv futile were his offers to 
double and treble the i)ilot"s fees. Finally, se<'in_ii; 
that persuasion was of no avail, the American com- 
mander resolved ui»on strateiiy. To his pro])osi- 
tion: " If you will not i;-o to sea, just get the schoom'r 
under way and ^o down below the fort and anchor 
there within the bai-," Mie i)ilot assent(Ml. But when 
below th(^ f(trt ('a]»tain ('oii,\i;'eshall seized a loaded 
pistol, held it to tlie pilot's head, and declared that 
he would shoot if the latter did not take the shi]) 
over the bar. The Amei-ican commander also de- 
(dared that if the Darid l^oricr took the ground the 
pilol would be held (Miually accountabl(\ Thorough- 
ly frightened the ])ilot got the shi]) over in less Ihan 
tifteen minutes, and a few days later he was landecl 
on his native shore, while the David Porter stood off 
to the northwest. 

Scarcely had the privateer turned her head on 
liei' new course when she had a narrow esca]>e fi'oni 
capture. At daylight ]Ma]-(di 15, 1814, during a 
heavy mist, the lookout re])orted a large ship on 
the weather quarter, and as the haze lifted it w;is 
seen to be a large frigate, without doubt an enemy. 
('a])tain Coggeshall realized the dniiger of his i)osi- 
tion, and maneuv^M-ed some ten or fifteen ininut<'s 
in the hop(^ (d' drawing llie stranger down to lee- 
ward so he would lie able to weather the frigate 
on one tacdv or the other. This was the favoi-ite trii k 
of Yankee privateersmen in this war, for if the swift- 
sailing ])i1ot boats once succeeded in getting an 
enemy under Mieir lee they could laugh at all efforts 
1o come to close (juarters. But the commander of 
the frigate evidently was aware of this maneuver, 
and instead of coming down he only kept off four 
or six points and steadily gained on the privateer, 



;U4 A TYPICAL PRIVATEERSMAN. 1814. 

tlieii oiilv two li'nnsliots to leeward. Idealizing the 
seriousness of the sitnation. Captain Coggeshall held 
a eonsnltation of his officers, at which it was urged 
tliat th(Mr only chance was to run past the frigate, 
receive her fire, and fake their chances in a race to 
windward. (''a]>tain Coggeshall, however, had good 
reason to believe that the ])<irld Portrr wonld be 
crii)pled by the frigate's broadside, so he gavc^ or<lers 
to g<4 tlie scpiare sail and stndding sails ready to 
rnn u\) at tlu^ same moment. 

When all Avas ready the licdm was i)nt n]), the 
s(piare sail hoisted, and in an incredibly short time 
the ])i*ivateer had become a scinare-rigged craft and 
was scudding before the wind like a (dond. The frig- 
ate's ])eople ai>parently did not for a moment snp- 
]iose that the jn-ivateer wonld attcunpt a rnn before 
the wind, and w(M-e faken somewhat by snr])rise in 
the S(diooner's sudden display of S(|uare sail, and 
tlu'r(d)y allowed hei* to gain a mile at the beginning 
of the (diase. As tlu' r»i*itish ski]>]H'r r(nilized the 
nature of flie maneuver he bent on his studding 
sails, and in five minutes had settled down to a de- 
termined (diase. With a view of increasing the 
s]MM'd of his vess(d, ('a]>tain Coggeshall ordered holes 
to be bored in all tli<' water casks except four, and 
the wafer ]»umi»e<] into l)U(d':ets and thrown against 
the sails so that the canvas would hohl the wind bet- 
ter. Besides this the sand ballast was thrown over- 
board, and, thus lightened, the DuruJ Poiicr began to 
dra\\' aA\ay from the <'neniy, so that by noon slu' was 
eiglit or ten miles in the hnid, ami by four in the 
aff(M-noon the frigate was a mere speck on the 
horizon. 

That evening, when the enemy had been left 
saf(dy out of sight, Captain Coggeshall examined 
the condition (d' his ship and found that he was in 
a ci'itical situation. Instead of leaving four casks 
tilled with wat(n' the car]>enter, in the confusion of 
the moment, had left only two, ami as the wind 



1814. BARE GOOD FORTUNE. ?,45 

began to freshen Captain Coggeshall fonnd that it 
was unsafe — his schooner being relieved of her bal- 
last — to haul upon the wind. The ])()sition of the 
privateer was indeed precarious. Wide off to sea 
in the Bay of Biscay, with scarcely ballast enough 
to stand upon her bottom, and having aboard only 
two casks of water and a few loaves of soft bread 
with which to feed thirty-five men, Captain Cogge- 
sliall found himself confronted by grave dangers. 

Undecided as to what immediate ste])s to take, 
and hoping for some favorable turn in (he wheel 
of fortune, he spent that lught in restless anxiety. 
The wind continued light, an<l toward morning, 
^larch l()tli, it was almost calm. As day began to 
dawn the lookout reported a sail, and shortly after- 
ward another, and another. And by the time the 
sun had (deared the mists away Captain Cogg<^shall 
found himself in the ]iresenc(^ of a small i\('vi of mer- 
(diantmen. Had these vessels come to the ])rivateer 
in answer to an ai>i>eal to Heaven they couhl not 
have surprised the sorely distress<Ml Americans more 
nor have carried greater joy to their hearts. So 
(juietly had the fleet a])proa(died, under cover of 
night, that the Americans could scarcely believe 
their eyes when day broke. In an instant all was 
bustle, haste, and exhilaration aboard the privateer, 
and she lost no time in running alongside a merchant 
brig and ca])turing her. Captain Coggeshall then 
learniMl that the ves:^els w(M'e a part of a lleet bound 
for St. Sebastian, laden with ])rovisi(nis for the Brit- 
ish army, and that they had become s(^]>arated from 
their convoy, a frigate and a sloop of war, only a 
few days before. 

After taking ])oss<^ssion of the brig, whi(di was 
laden ])rincipal]y with provisions, Ca])tain (N)gge- 
shall entered into an agreement with her master by 
which the latter was 1o assist, with his boats and 
UKMi, in transporting his cargo to the schooner, after 
whi(di he was to go free with his briii. The Enirlish- 



346 A TYPICAL PRIVATEERSMAN. 1814. 

man reluctantly consented, and in two honrs the 
united crews had placed enough provisions aboard 
the David Porfer to keep her at sea three months. 
Speaking with the fervor of a starving man behold- 
ing the good things of life, Captain ('Oggeshall 
quaintly describes the occurrence as follows: " His 
cabin was filled with bags of hard biscuit, the staff of 
life, which we took first, and then got a fine supi)ly of 
butter, hams, cheese, potatoes, porter, etc., and last, 
though not least, six casks of fresh water. After 
this was done the captain asked ine if I would make 
him a present of the brig and the residue of the 
cargo for his own ])rivate account, to which I Avill- 
ingly agreed, in consideration of th(^ assistance I had 
received from him and his uumi. I showed him my 
commission from the (lovernmcnt of the United 
States auth<»rizing mo to take, burn, sink, or destroy 
our common enemy, and satisfied him that he was a 
lawful prize to my vessel. I then gave him a certifi- 
cate stating that though his brig was a lawful prize, 
I voluntarily gave her to him as a pi'esent. This, of 
course, was only a ])iece of tomfoolery, but it pleased 
the captain, and we ])arted good friends." 

AYith as litth^ delay as ]H>ssible Captain Cogge- 
shall then hastcMied after othei- vessels in the fieet, 
which wer<^ making off in many directions. The light 
wind prevailing at the time <lid not enable them 
to get very far, and in a short time th(^ Darid Porter 
had seized a ship and two brigs w]ii<li had been a 
mile or two off her lee beam. The same arrange- 
ments relative to transferring cargo to the priva- 
teer as had l)een made with the first brig were made 
with the masters of these vessels, and in a short 
time the DavUl Porhr was iiearly filled with a valu- 
able assortment of goods, consisting principally of 
provisions, officers' and soldiers" uniforms, cocked 
hats, epaulets, small arms, instruments of music, 
cloths, and general mercliandise. 

While engaged in this agreeable occupation a 



1814. A MASTERLY RETREAT. 347 

fresh breeze sprang up from the southwest, and 
shortly afterAvard it came on dark and rainy, 
which made it difficult to continue the work of trans- 
porting goods to the privateer. At five o'clock a sail 
was reported to windward, and going aloft with a 
glass Captain ("oggeshall soon recognized her, from 
her carrying a white bleached jib, while all her other 
sails were of a dark color, as being the same frig- 
ate that had chased him only a feAV days before. 
This time, however, circumstances were more favor- 
abh^ to the privateer. The schooner was in good 
trim, the uwn well fed, and witli a i)rospect of large 
dividends they worked with a will. Furthermore, on- 
coming night gave the schooner every chanc(^ for es- 
cai)e. Coming rapidly <lown the frigate a]»]>roaclicd 
Avithin five or six miles, when Ca])taiii Cogge- 
shall ran ncvir his i)rizes and ord(M-ed tliem all to 
hoist lanterns. Strange to say not one of the F.ritish 
masters ha<l discoveinnl the frigate, and they obeytMl 
the order, little thinking that they were inviting a 
broadside fi'om ]^]nglisli guns into their own sides, 
or Avere materially assisting in the esca])e of the 
Yankee skii^per. I>ut this was just Avhat they did. 

(Quickly extinguishing all his lights, Caj)tain 
Coggeshall ()uietly drew away in the night, and was 
soon speeding off in another direction, Avhile the lum- 
bei'ing frigate, observing the groui> of lights, made 
directly for them. '' ^"ery soon after this," riunarked 
Ca]>tain Coggeshall, "I heard the frigate tiring at 
her unfortunate countrymen, Avhile we wei-e partak- 
ing of an excellent su])i)er at their expense." Two 
days later the David I'orhr was chased by a frigate 
and a bi-ig of ^^■ar, but had little difficulty in making 
her esca])e. It may here be r<uuai*ked that the cap- 
tain of the Diir'nl I'orhr's long t<»m a\';is a colored 
man. This was the only gnu on which ( 'a j)tain Cogge- 
shall ])lace(l the slightest (lei)endence. "'My only 
de])endeuce." he wrote, " was on my 18-]>ounder, 
mounted amidshij>s on a ])ivot." For this gun he 



34S A TYPICAL PRIVATEERSMAN. 1814. 

selected ten of the largest and strongest men of his 
crew. Philip, the colored captain of this gun, was 
a huge man, over six feet high, and a general 
favorite. 

After running the frigate and the brig of war 
out of sight. Captain Coggeshall decided to land at 
rile d'Yeu, a small island about thirty miles from 
St. Gilles, on the west coast of France, and send 
his ship home in charge of his first officer, Samuel 
Nichols, assisted by the second officer, Charles 
Coggeshall. This was done on ]Marcli 24, 1814, and 
leaving her commander at this place the David Porter 
turned her head westward. Capturing several Brit- 
ish merchantmen on the passage over, this schooner 
arrived safely at Gloucester, where her ten prisoners 
were landed, the owners of the privateer receiving 
one thousand dollars from the (iovernment as 
bounty for them. This voyage of the Darid Porter 
brought her owners some twenty thousand dollars, 
and shortly after her arrival in Boston she was sold 
for ten thousand dollars. 

Her new owners sent her to sea, under the com- 
mand of Captain J. Fish, in the summer of 1814, 
when she took several valuabh' nu'rchantmeu. 
Among them were the brig Mars, from Mogador, 
which was divested of the most valualde ])art of h(^r 
cargo and ordered to America; the brig Coriiirallis, 
divested and converted into a cartel; the G-gun ship 
Vestcr, from Bio Janeiro for England, divested and 
ordei'ed in; and the brig Iforatlo, from and for the 
same places, laden with hides and tallow, which was 
ransomed for a bill of exchange on England amount- 
ing to twenty thousand dollars. In this cruise the 
David Porter was chased nine hundred and forty 
miles by a British frigate and two slo(4)s of war, but 
she finally eluded them and arrived safely in New 
York, September, 1814. 

On the following December 1st the David Porter 
again got to sea, and in a cruise of fifteen days took 



1814-1815. THE DAVID PORTER'S RICH PRIZES. ?Ai) 

the brin' Iliraiii, of Liverpool, with a carjio valiKMl at 
one hiiiidi-ed tliousand dolhirs, the Ami DoroUif/, an 
American vessel in the possession of the enemy, 
and two other valuable brius. In January, 1815, 
this ])rivateer sailed on her last cruise, in which 
site ai)]>eared oif the Western Isles, Portugal, the 
Madeii-as, the Canaries, Brazil, Cayenne, Surinam, 
and throuiih the West Indies, retnrnini;- to ])(trt in 
ei<»hty days frcun the time of sailing. In this pro- 
tracted search for British mercdiantmen the i)riva- 
teer made only three ])rizes: the .'>-masted scliooner 
(/ro/v/r, which, being- of litth^ valu(% was released, 
the c()]»pcr(Ml brig lli/iiifi /'/s//, with a cargo worth 
two hun(lr<Ml thonsaiul dollars, whi( h was sent into 
New Bedford; and the brig Lcijul Tender, tlie last 
being r<M-aptured March 7, 1815, by the 74-gun ship 
of the line Spencer. 

In her entire career during this war the Dtirid 
Porter made flfteen i)rizes. 



CHAPTER XI. 

AN ESCAPE EUOM (4IBRAETAR. 

After the departure uf the David Porter for 
America, Captain Coggeshall remained several 
months in France attending- to the interests of his 
em]>l<).vei-s. At this time, April, 1814, owing to the 
unsettled ])()]itical condition of the empire and the 
near ai)i)i-oacli of the English army, tliere was 
scarcely an American vessel in l^^rencdi waters. The 
privateer schooner Kemp, Captain Jacobs, of Balti- 
more, was at Nantes, and the schooners Lion and 
y^peiieer were at V Orient, whicdi about completes the 
list. The JAoii, sonu^imes known as Li/oii, was a 
fast vessel out of Salem, mounting twenty-two guns 
and commanded by Cai»tain T. Cloutman, and others 
at <lifferent times. In her last cruise she had taken 
fifteen ])rizes, many of \vhi<h were destroyed at sea, 
and the cargoes, whi(di realized four hundred thou- 
sand dollars, had been sent into TOrient. The 
Spencer carrieil only nine guns and was commamled 
by Captain C. ^loore, of Philadelphia. Sh(^ had 
taken two of tlie enemy's schooners laden with wine. 

There Avere a number of American gentlemen, 
commanders of privateers, supercargoes, etc., in 
France at this time, who had become well ac- 
quainted with ea<di otheis and wIkmi it was known 
that su(di an able commander as Coggeshall was 
there without a command they soon arranged to se- 
cure a fast-sailing vessel for him for the purpose of 
operating against British commerce. The Tao, a fine 

350 



1814. FITTING OUT THE LKO IN FRANCE. ,S51 

vessel of three hinidred and twenty tons, built in 
Baltimore, then Ivinii' at I'Orient, was selected. She 
was (►wned by Thomas Lewis, an American residinjj; 
in liordeanx. This ]>rivateer, earlier in the war, 
whiU* nnder the command of Captain J. Ilewes, had 
taken fifteen prizes, ten. of whi(di had been destroyed, 
three were ransomcMl for sixty thousand dollars, and 
one, the bri_i»' Ah.niiHlcr, was cast away near l*\n*rol 
while the privateer was enterinjj,- that port in a gale. 
One of her prizes was an East Indiaman valued at 
two million dollars. Sixty thousand dollars in 
s])ecie were taken out of the Indiaman and she was 
sent to America in chariic of a ]»rize crew, but was 
reca]>tured by an Enj^lish slooj* of war before j^ain- 
iuii ])ort. On her first ])assa!ne to France the Leo 
<aptured the bri^ roiiioini, fi'om Lisbon for New- 
foundland, carryin_n- eiiiht 12-i)ounders. She was 
sent into li(dfast, ^Nlaine. In the earlier part of the 
war (';i]>tain Ilewes commanded the privateer 
liuiilt r Hill, a s(diooner of six liuns, whi(di made six 
])rizes. She was ca]»tui-ed while off our coast, 
August 21, 1812, by the British fri«iate Bvlridvra. As 
this occurred shortly after the narrow escape^ of this 
friiiate from Captain IIod<iers' squadron, tlie com- 
mander of the Bclridcni, Ca])tain Kichard Byron, un- 
doubtedly con<i,ratuliited himself on his lucky cap- 
ture. A second liimki i- 11 ill was launcdied toward the 
(dose of the wai'. 

On November 2, 1814, the Leo was i)urc]ias(Ml by 
an association (d Americans abroad and un<l(M' the 
sanction of William 11. Crawford, the American 
minister to France, was commissioned as a priva- 
teer. It was proposed that the Tag should first make 
a short cruise in sear( h (d' ]>rizes and tlu'U ])roc(M'd 
to Charleston, South Carolina, for a cariio of cotton. 
At this tinu' there were a lari^e number of American 
officers and seamen in sev(M'al of the western ports 
of France su]>i)orted by our Oovernment. They were, 
as a rule, ex< hanged prisoners who had been de- 



352 AN ESCAPE FROM GIBRALTAR. 1814. 

tallied ill port by the failure of tlielr ships to get to 
sea, and as their terms of enlistmeiit had not expired 
tli(\Y contimied to draw pay from the Goverumeut. 
From tliese Captain Coggeshall was able to select 
a most <lesirable complement of officers and men. 
His first and second officers were Pierre G. Depey- 
ster and Henry Allen. Azor (). Lewis, a brother of 
the former owner of the Leo, was taken as one of the 
prize masters. These, together with eighty-six petty 
officers and seamen, constituted the i)rivateer's coiii- 
plemeut. 

So much inlluence was exerted over the Govern- 
ment of Louis X\^1II by England that the Ameri- 
cans were fearful of being detained in port on some 
technicality, and for this reason evei\y exertion was 
made to hasten the /vco'.v departure. Gaptain Gogge- 
shall found tliat her hull was in fairly good condi- 
tion, but that her sails and rigging were much out of 
repair. By working night and day, however, he was 
ready for sea with provisions enough for fifty days 
by November (Jtli, and dropped down near the mouth 
of the outer harbor. ITow well founded were the 
fears of the Americans of detention in ])ort will be 
seen by tlu^ orders Ga])tain Goggeshall now received 
from the local authorities, which were to return to 
his anchorage and disarm his vess(d. Waiting on the 
commanding officer of the port the American was 
told that he must take out all of his hrearms and 
guns except one, but the commandant jokingly 
added that this gun would be sufficient to take a 
dozen English vessels before reaching Gharleston. 
Every gun aboard, accordingly, was removed except- 
ing the long brass 12-pouiider amidships. In the 
night, however, Gaptain Goggeshall managed to 
smuggle ab(Kird some twenty or thirty muskets, and 
with this armament he sailed on November 8th and 
steered for the chops of the British Ghannel. 

It was soon found that the 12-pouiider was nearly 
useless in action, so that the Americans were obliged 



1814. OFF THE ROCK OF LISBON. 353 

to depend almost entirely npon boai'din<>-. This in 
rongh weather was a dangerons operation, as the 
delicately bnilt Baltimoi'e craft in all probability 
wonld have her sides crnshed in shonld she come in 
contact with a h(nivy English merchant ship. It was 
this circumstance that compelhMl Captain Cogge- 
shall, when only a few days ont, to allow a large mer- 
chantman to escape him. At six o'cdock on the morn- 
ing of November 13th, while near the Scilly Islands, 
the L(<) (liscovered a brig to hMnvard, and after giv- 
ing her a shot indnced her to surrender. She was 
from l^eghorn bound u]» the (liannel. Taking her 
peo])le into the L(() Captain Coggeshall placed a prize 
crew aboard, and ordered the brig to make for 
America. 

Down to this time the Leo had been experiencing 
very heavy weather, whi<di, together with the i)ecnl- 
iar condition <»f her armament, induced lun* com- 
mander to (diange his cruising ground, and heading 
southward he a|>i)eared off the coast of Spain. On 
November ISth the L<<) was (diased by a brig of war. 
At eight o"( lock in the evening she ]>assed a mer- 
chant brig, but Captain Coggeshall did not deem it 
prudent to stop, as the cruiser was still in hot pur- 
suit of him. Ry dawn of the f«dlowing day all trace 
of the war brig had been lost. At 7 A. M. (diase was 
given to a sail off the weather bow\ Three lionrs 
later she was captured, and was foun<l to be an Eng- 
lish cutter, from TenerilTe for London, lad(Mi with 
wine. Taking out twenty (juarter casks of wine, 
together with her crcnv and some rigging. Captain 
Coggeshall caused her to be scuttled. 

On the mo]-ning of the following day the Lto 
made a sail to windward, and after four hours of 
maneuvering to get a favorable ])osition he discov- 
ered her to be an l^iiglish brig of war, armed with 
carronades, or guns having a short range. Being to 
windward, and having the su])eriority of sailing. Cap- 
tain Coggeshall kept just within long range of the 



354 AN ESCAPE FROM GIBRALTAR. 1814. 

encniy and then iudiilged in some target practice 
with his long toni. This was kept up for about an 
hour, when the Leo hauled off, and in time \\w 
stranger disapi^eared below^ the horizon. The Eng- 
lishmen fired some thirty or forty shots at the au- 
dacious privateer, most of them falling short, a few 
going over, and only one hitting the Leo. That shot 
passed through the bends amidships and lodged in 
the hold. The next day the Leo fell in with an Eng- 
lish frigate, which endeavored to decoy the Ameri- 
can under her guns by showing Portuguese colors; 
but the Yankees were not so easily deceived, and, 
showing the Rtars and Stripes, Captain Coggc^shall 
liau](Hl close to the wind and soon ran the frigate 
out of sight. 

During the night the weather was squally. Early 
in the morning an Englisli schooner, from Malaga 
bound for Dublin, with a cargo of grapes, was cap- 
tured and sent to the TTnited States in charge of a 
prize crew. In the next two days the Lvo spoke sev- 
eral neutral vessels, and on the afternoon of the 
24th was chased by two frigates, but easily out- 
sailed them. At three o'clock on the afternoon of 
the 25th the Lvo chased a sail, but in half an hour 
Captain Coggeshall discovered her to be a frigate, 
when he hauled upon the wind. The frigate fired a 
gun an<l showed American colors, to which the priva- 
teer responded with the Ignited States ensign, but 
after a few minutes this was rei)laced by the English 
colors. F]»(»n seeing this the frigate fired three or 
four shots, but finding that they fell short desisted. 
In tlie night Captain Coggeshall lost sight of the 
fi'igate. 

On November 20th the Tjco captured an English 
ship, from Palermo for London, laden with brim- 
stone, rags, mats, etc., which was ordered to the 
United States after her crew of twenty men had 
been taken out. At one o\dock on the afternoon of 
December 1st, while the Lvo was oft' the Kock of 



l»l-i. CAPTURE OF THE LEO. 35,-j 

Lisbon, a large frigate was discovered making for 
her nnder a press of sail. The wind at this jnncture 
was blowing strong from the north-northwi^st, and 
at times came on in scjnalls. Caidain ('(►ggeshall 
steered westward so as to weatlier the frigate, bnt 
unfortunately at 2 r. m. the L((> gave a sudden lurch, 
which carried away her foi-emast about a third Ixdow 
its head, and a few minntes later it broke again, 
(dose by the boar<l. While in this unfortunate con- 
dition Captain Coggeshall had th<' mortiticatic^n of 
seeiug an English ])acket — ]>r<d)ably with a large 
amount of specie aboard — ]»ass within ]»ist(>l sliot of 
him. As night was fast coming on, and the frigate 
still was some miles distant, ('a])tain Coggeshall en- 
t<'rtain(Ml gri^at hoju's of Indng able to make Lisbon 
before moi-ning. .Vccordingly he rigged a jury fore- 
mast and made good progri^ss until near daylight, 
when it became almost calm, at which time the Leo 
was in sight (d' the Rock of Lisbon. The Americans 
then resorted to towing until 1 v. M., when a light 
brecv.e carried them to the mouth of the Tagus and 
a Lisbon ])ilot was taken aboard, lint unfoi'tunate- 
ly the (d)b tide b(\gan to run, and with it a liritish 
fiigate caiiK^ out of the Tagus and in a few minntes 
had the jn-ivateer under her guns, comi)elling the 
American to surrendei'. She was the oS-gun frigate 

('a])tain Coggeshali, his officers, and men were 
taker, aboard the frigate and carried to Gibraltar. 
The Auiei-icans wei-e received by the British with 
great kindness. Captain Coggeshall said: " Cai)tain 
Wise A\;is ;i line, gentlemanly man, and always 
treated nie and my (d'licers with res])ect and kind- 
ness. \\'e messed in the wardroom. 1 had a state- 
I'ooni to mys(df, und wns as comfortable and ha ])py as 
1 ( ould be undei- the circumstances. T used to dine 
witli Ca])laiu \\'ise almost daily. ITe frequently 
said to UM': 'Don't feid (h'pressed by ca])tivity, but 
strive to forget that you are a prisoner, and imagine 



35G AN ESCAPE FROM GIBRALTAR. 1814. 

that yon are (nily a i)assenj2,ei'.' lii the course of cou- 
versatiou he said to me: ' Co<;geshall, you Americans 
are a siu^uhir i)(M)ple as resi)ects seauiansliip and 
enteri)i'ise. In Ennhind we can not bnihl such ves- 
sels as your Baltimore clippers. We have no such 
mod(ds, and cneii if we had them they would be of 
no s(M-vice to us, for we never could sail them as you 
do. \\'e have now and IIkmi taken some of your 
s( hooners with our fast-sailiuj;- friiiates. They have 
sometimes caught one of them under their lee in a 
heavy i;ale of win<l by outcarryinii' them. Then, 
ai^ain, Ave have taken a few with our boats in calm 
Aveather. \\'e are afraid of tlndr lonj;- masts and 
heavy spars, and soon cut down and reduce them to 
our standai-d. \\'e strenL>then them, put up bulk- 
heads, (dc., after which they lose tlieir sailing quali- 
ties and are of no fui-ther service as cruising vessels." 
He also remarked that the famous xn'ivateer True 
lUoodal Ydiil-cc, whi( h had done tliem so nnndi mis- 
(dnef, once Ixdonged to their navy; that they cap- 
tured hi'V from the Frencdi; that she afterward Avas 
retaki^n, and tiimlly got into the hands of the Ameri- 
cans; tliat she then outsailed everything and that 
none of their cruisers could touch her, an<l concduded 
by adding that Ave Avere a most ingenious ])eople." 

('ai»taln Wis(\ in frien<lly convcM-sation Avith Cap- 
tain Coggeshall, revealed a little inside history of 
American ]>rivateers as seen fi'om the enemy's stand- 
l)oint, Av]n< h is as amusing as it is gratifying. ITe 
tohl how the 74-gun ship of the line Siipci-Jt Avas 
cruising off th(^ moutli (d" the (Jaronne one morning, 
when the fog lifted and ri^vealed one of the Ameri- 
can privateer s( hooners as snug as a bug in a rug 
under her guns. No one aboard the huge Avar ship 
for a mouKMit antici]>ated that the little craft, so 
com]»letely at their mercy, Avould attem]d to escape, 
and so no ]»re]>arations Averc^ made to (dear the guns. 
The quick eye of the Yankee skipi)er, however, noted 
the overcont1d(Mice of tlu^ English, and suddenl}^ mak- 



1814. GIVING THE GUARD THE SLIP. 357 

in<j^ sail, lie was soon beyond the range of the war 
ship's br()a(lsi<h\ The English, of conrse, made sail 
in chase, bnt their ship got into the wind and made 
stern board — so that, before they eonld get suflicient 
steerageway to tack aft(M' the scdiooner, the little 
craft had made thr<'e or fonr ta(d^s right in the 
wind's eye, and was s(K)n ont of gunshot and es(a]»ed. 
It is a singular circnmstance that Captain ( 'ogge- 
slialTs father was a tirst consin of ('a])tain Isaac 
Hull, the famous commaiuh'r of the (^oiisfihifioii 
when she fonglit the <liii'n-lvn\ while the ca])tain of 
tiie defeated frigate, Kichard Dacres, was a cousin 
of ( 'ajttain Wise. 

Arriving at (Jibraltar, Captain Coggeshall, with 
his tirst and second olliccrs, IMerre (J. I)e]>evster and 
Henry Allen, was taken to the Admiralty ol'tice to 
undergo an examination ])re])aratorv to the con- 
demnation of the lj(i) l)y the authorities. On the 
tirst day, the American ofticers were landed without 
a guard, as they gave their ])romise not to atteui])t 
to esca])e. On the second day, however, tlie Amei'i- 
caus refused to give the promise, so that a lieutenant, 
a sei'geant, and four marines w(n'e detailed t(> guard 
them. It is needless to say that the privateersmen 
had made np their min<ls to escape at the first (»p- 
])ortunity, and they secreted money about their per- 
sous to aid them in the attem]>t. 

Arriving at the Aduiiralty ohice, ('a])tain Cogge- 
shall t(Md< a seat iu tlie court rooiu, waiting for the 
examination to recouimence. Tlis attention was 
soou attracted by Mr. Allen, who was standing in the 
<loor\vay beckoning to liiui. (Joing to tlu' door, it 
was found that the I'ritish lieutenant had left his 
post. Asking the sei'geaut to take a glass of wiue in 
a neighboring slio]», Cajdaiu Coggeshall 1(m1 the way 
iuto the dingy ])lace, followed by the sergeant and 
two American ])risoiiers. \Vliile the sergeant was 
looking in another direction, Captain Coggeshall 
slii»[)ed out, passed (pii(dvly over a little park, turned 



358 AN ESCAPK FROM GIBRALTAR. 1814-1815. 

a corner, and made his way to the Land Port Gate in 
the northwest extremity of the town. Althongh he 
had j;iven the sergeant the slip, onr privateersinan 
was still far from being safe. He was within the 
walls of (libraltar, each gate of which was strongly 
guarded. His dress consisted of a blue coat, black 
s<o( Iv, and bla(dv co(d;ade, with an eagle in the center. 
\\y removing the eagle he presented the ai)pearance 
of an English naval officer; and relying on this sem- 
blance, he gave the scMitiiud a severe glance, who 
saint (m1 respectfully, and in another moment the 
Yankee was without the walls. 

At the mole he engaged a boatman, who took him 
aboard a Norwegian galiot. To the master of this 
vess(d the i)rivateersmaii made known his escape 
and begge<l for conc(vilm(Mit. This was generously 
grant(Ml, and a few minutes later the American ap- 
]>eared on deed-: dressed in Norwegian costume and 
with a large pi])e in his mouth. From this vessel 
('ai»tain ('oggc^shall went aboard a smuggling craft, 
under cover of night, and in it made his way to 
Algeciras, on the west side of (Jibraltar Bay, where 
for three days he rc'inained concc^altMl in the home of 
the leader of the smugglers. L^rom this place Cap- 
tain Coggeshall gradually made his way to Lisbon, 
and thence in the Portuguese brig Trcs IIcniKiiios to 
Now York, arriving there ^Nlay 0, 1815. Mr. Depej^- 
sier and Mr. Alh^ii were not as fortunate in escap- 
ing.- They gave the sergc^nnt the sli]) as Captain 
Coggeshall had done, but on rea(diing the nude they 
were recaptured. 



CHAPTEK XII. 

IX BRITISH PKISOXS. 

As nearly all the Ainei-icaiis taken prisoners on 
the high seas bv the British in this war were priva- 
teersmen, an extended notice of their treatment will 
be necessary. Only a few of onr man-of-warsnien 
were captnred, and in most cases they were si)eedily 
exchanged. At ^Melyille Island, near Halifax, there 
\yere, in 1813, some twelye hnndred American 
sailors, the majority of them taken in priyateers. 
This island is described as being- " a little aboye the 
surface of the water, and from its low situation is 
generally yery nnhealthy. Its circumference is 
about one thousand six hundred feet. On this nau- 
seous spot is situated a buihling of two stories, one 
liundred and thirty feet in length by forty broad, 
;iud of the upper room thirty feet is set apart for 
the sick. The remainder of this apartment now con- 
tains one hundred and (Mghty American prisoners, 
hi 1h(^ lower room are seyen hundred and seyenty 
iii(»r(% cooped up to breathe the same air and generate 
diseases by this narrow confine. Three Innnlrcd and 
tifty mor(^ are near this island in a prison shi]). Tu 
this situation, under the most rigorous tn^atment, 
our brethren remain. ... To heighten the ])oignancy 
of their reflections, they are told by the Kritish agent, 
]\riller, ' to die and be damned, the king has one hun- 
dred and fifty acres of land to bury them in." " 

^lany instances of the petty tyranny of the ofli- 
cials at tliis place are giyen. On one occasion some 

359 



300 IN BRITISH PRISONS. 1812. 

British officers were endeavoring' to persuade an 
Ameriean lad to enter tlieir navy. An officer of the 
American privateer Yorliotrii, also a prisoner, hap- 
pened to be standing;- by and overheard the conver- 
sation. He said, in an nndei-tone, "• Jo(% don't t^o."' 
The boy didn't <;o, but for his '' iini)ertiuence " in the 
matter the officer of the Yorlioini ^vas placed in the 
"black hole" on short allowance for ten days. 

No less nnfecdini; w(n-e the British i)rison officials 
at Jamaica and Barbadoes. At the former place an 
American ])risoner records, under date of December 
13, 1812: '' I wi'ote you on the Stli inst. informing you 
of my beiuii cai>tured by the sloop of war Faini, Cap- 
tain Fellows, about twenty miles io northeast of 
Cape Tib(n*on, and carried to Jamaica, where we were 
all innnediately sent to prison, and we were treated 
more like brutes than human beings. Our allow- 
ance is half a pound of hors(^ meat, a pound and a 
half of bread that had been condemned, b(Mng more 
of worms than bn^ad, and <tne gill of beans. That 
is all our allowance foi- twenty-four hours! AA'hen 
I was taken I had all my clmrts, (juadrant, and 
(dothes taken from me, and was not allow^ed even 
to ask for them. There are now in this prison ship 
four hundred and lifty-two prisoners and more arriv- 
ing daily. It is reported to-day that we are all to be 
sent to England by the fleet whi(di is to sail in six 
days." Another corresixnident writes that the Ja- 
maica prison ships are '' infested with rats, centi- 
pedes, snakes, roaches, and lizards." 

From the Norfolk Herald w(^ have the following: 
" A young man by the nanu^ of Thomas King, a 
native of Charleston, South Cai-olina, and formerly 
a seaman in the Fnited States brig ]'i.rcii, having 
been ])aroled at Jamaica, was returning home in the 
cartel I*(Ikc<-<i Sims, wlien he was imprc^ssed on board 
the 71-gun shii» I'oiciios, as she was entering the 
Delaware, uikUm- tlie pretext of his being an Eng- 
lishman. The Poiclicrs soon afterward was ordered 



181:!. A PERILOUS ESCAPE. 301 

to Boriiuida, where, liavinj;- arrived, yoniiji: Kiii^ 
was transferred to the (U-iiini ship Ruhji. Ilaviu*;- 
(h^eriuined to attempt his escape at the first oi)por- 
t unity tliat offered, lie jmrchased of one of liis mess- 
mates a small pocket com}»ass, which he always car- 
ried about him. Kini;- kei)t his eve on a tine, lar«;e 
sailin|ii' Ixtat Ixdonj^inu to the shi]), whi(di commoidy 
was ke])t aloniiside. On Sunday of July 25, 181l>, 
some of the ofticei-s ha<l 1ak(Mi this boat out sailin<;' 
and returned alongside in the dusk of the eveninjjj, 
where she remained some time with her masts, sails, 
rudder, etc., all standinj;'. This youthful adventurer, 
havinin' secured two loaves of bread and some water, 
i;()t into the boat, cast off the fast, and drifted along 
with the tide till he had got some distance oft", when 
he hoisted sail and took a v(M'v unceremonious leave 
of the Ixuhji and Bermuda. Thus in an open boat, with 
scarce ])rovisions enough to last him two days, he 
committed himself to the wind and waves to trav- 
erse an exjKinse of six or sevc^i hundred miles. 
Wheu in(dined to slee]> he tied the tiller to his arm, 
so tliat if the boat wore round it wonld cause a sud- 
den jerk of the tiller, wliich would wake him again. 
He experienced no debility or sickness from the 
scantiness of his meals, and, with fine weather near- 
ly the whole way, he made a landing abont ten miles 
south of Cape Henry f»n Tuesday, the 3d of August, 
being a passage of nine days. The boat is seven 
tons burden, and if she could be got round here 
would probably sell for a hundred and fifty dollars." 
In a letter addressed to James Turner, the Brit- 
ish agent of prisoners of war at Port Royal, Jamaica, 
the agents for the American prisoners — William 
W'escott, John ^IcFate, and James Stevens- — under 
date of Man h :*.0, 1813, wrote: 

" L'Aini'tliyste Prison Sliip. 

"Sir: Being agents for ])risonei's of war at this 

]>lace, we conceive you to be the pro])er ]i(n'son to 

address in stating the grievances under which we 
20 



3(52 IN BRITISH PRISONS. 1813. 

labor, relying' on yowv attention to discover and will- 
ingness to adopt those measures which may be best 
calculated to afford us relief. This mornini;' Lieu- 
tenant Dance, of the Fifth West India Ixegiment, ac- 
companied by a guard of seven soldiers with loaded 
muskets, came on board this ship and informed us 
we must go with him to Kingston to attend a court- 
martial. Upon our replying that we di<l not know 
in Avhat manner we were to be concerned in that 
court, he exclaimed, ' You must go, and if force is 
necessary to com])el you, I am directed to resort to 
it! ' Our hesitation increasing, he went on deck, and 
brought down with him four s(ddiers with naked 
bayonets, himself and Lieutenant (leihh^s (the officer 
of the guard) accompanying them with drawn 
swords. . . . W(^ then ask(Ml Lieutenant Dance 
wh(^ther, in the event of our consenting to go, his 
officers were to escort us through tlie streets. He 
pledged his honor they should not, but that ourselves 
should go on one side of the street and they on the 
other. We then consented to go. But imagine what 
must have been our chagrin an<l disap])ointment 
when, on arriving at Kingston, the lieutcMiant, disre- 
garding his ]>romise, careless of our findings, and 
not res])ecting our (duiracter as officers — two of us 
having the honor to belong to the United States 
navy — wantonly and ignominiously marcdied us 
through the streets of the city like malefactors, 
himself going before and his soldiers following and 
walking on either side of us. In this disgraceful 
manner we were deposited in the guardhouse of the 
barracks. 

" In the guardhouse we remained from 8.'>0 a. m. 
till 1 P. M. without knowing whether our ])resence 
was nec(^ssary at the court-martial, without know- 
ing for >Ahat ]»urpos(^ we were sent to Kingston, 
Avithout having any sustenance or refreshuK'ut of 
any kind, and without being jx^rmitted, during our 
confinement, to have any person visit us. Having 



1818. INHUMAN TREATMENT. 303 

ronliripd us as long- as they tlioiioht proper, they con- 
signed us to the care of Lieutenant Grant, who 
marched us to the boat and brought us to the prison 
slii]) again. You will perceive, sir, that, having eaten 
nothing the night before, we were deprived of every- 
thing for the support of nature from three o'clock 
I'. M., 2()th inst., till after three o'clock on the ?>()tli 
(the time we were sent on board). But this is the 
least part of our complaint, though we leave you to 
reflect whether such treatment is becoming in the 
ofti<-ers (»f one civilized nation at war with another. 
We are liei-e for no crime. The fortune of war has 
placed us in your power. We have not degraded 
ourselves by any indecorous conduct since we be- 
canu' youi- prisoners. We preserve the same routine 
of duty liere as we did on board our oa\ n vessels. 
Why, then, this insult — this wanton abuse? Why 
take the advantage of defenseless prisoners for the 
pur])ose of venting your malignity and conlempt for 
the Anu'rican nation? Your Government can never 
ap])rove such proceedings; the American most cer- 
taiidy will not. Your Government, we are induced 
to Ixdieve, are desirous of i)reserving thos(^ sacred 
rules of justice and honor with regard to prisoners 
of war wlii( h they require of ours. You will there- 
fore confer a favor on us by submitting the circum- 
stances of our case to Yice-Admiral Stirling, who, 
from tlie kind regard he has ever paid to the i)eti- 
Tions and remonstrances of American prisoners, 
will, we trust, use his best endeavors toward amelio- 
rating our present unhappy condition." 

Such being the treatment of Americans in Brit- 
ish ])risons on this side of the Atlantic, we feel no 
surprise in discovering that they were subjected to 
even greater cruelty on the other side of the ocean. 
At the outbi-eak of hostiiiti<\s between the United 
States and Great I'ritaiu, many of the .\uun*ican 
seamen who had been impressed into English war 



364 IN BRITISH PRISONS. 1813. 

ships refused to serve, and for this display of patri- 
otism they were severel}^ handled. When the news 
of the war reaehed Tonlon, where the British fleet 
had assembled, many of onr seamen refused to con- 
tinue in that service, u])on which they were thrown 
into prison at ^lalta. 

Captain Jeduthan Upton, Jr., of Salem, who was 
a prisoner of war in this conflict, said: " The method 
of ascertaininij,' whether these nn^i who refused to 
serve on the ground of being,- Americans was to 
conduct the man to prison. He Avas then severely 
flogged for sm'eral days successively, and if he bore 
it manfully he was given u}) as an American. If 
n(d, he was kept on duty." 

On December 10, 1812, the American 12-gun pri- 
vateer schooner Hirordfish, Ca])tain J. Evans, of (ilou- 
cester, got to sea with a comidement of eighty-two 
men and V)oys. Twelve days out she was chased by 
the British frigate EhplKUit. After a hard run of 
eleven houi-s, during which the privateer had thrown 
overboard ton of her guns, she was captured and 
sent to England. When the surgeon of the l^ironlfish 
was returned to the ITnit(Ml Stat(^s in a cartel, he 
reported that when he was in Portsmouth the 71- 
gun ship of the line ContiraJJ arrived there from a 
foreign port, having on board "■ thirty impressed 
American seamen; that a part of them requested to 
be considered as i)risoners of war, and refused to 
do duty; that in consequence they were put in irons 
and ordered to be fed on bread and water. The 
British officer, suspecting that they had been ad- 
vised to this step by the surgeon of the ^irordpsh, 
ordered him between decks; nor was he again per- 
mitted his usual liberty till he embarked in the 
cartel. We are also furnished with the names of 
one hundred and thirteen Americans who had been 
impressed who have been sent on board the *S7. 
Aiiioitln prison ship; two of them had been enslaved 
eighteen years in the British service, and the others 



1S1'3. OFFICERS AND SEAMEN TREATED ALIKE. :5(;r, 

fi'oiii ;i liiilf to fifteen yeiU'S. There were about eij^lit 
Imiidved ])i'isoners in tlie sliij). It bad been consid- 
ei'cd sickly; about (liii-tv liad die<b Provisions were 
bad in (|nality and scant: half a pound of beef ami 
one and a half pounds of bread ]>er day; two days in 
tlie week they liad one pound ]>i<d\led herrinii, or 
oilier fish and one pound ]>otatoes as their allow- 
ance. I'rom ") I'. M to (*> A. .M the prisoners were con- 
liiied under lial( lies." 

Tliei-e was no (list iiu-t ion between officers and 
men alloAved in the prisons whi(di they had the mis- 
foi-tnne to enter. Oflicers and m(Mi of ]>rivateers 
were isot permitted a ]»arole unless the vess(d in 
whi( li they were cai)tured carried fourteen i^uns at 
the time of ca]>ture. ri)ton was captured in tlie 
bri<i- JIintl(i\ December 2:>, 1S12, by the l»ritish friii- 
ate PJi(i!i<\ Captain .lames Ilillyar, who always had 
a liiiili estimation of the American seaman — esj)e- 
cially after his bloody encounter with Captain Por- 
ter in the A'.s-xc.r. P]tton had thrown OA'erboard 
twehc of his fourteen ^uns in the hope of esca})in_ii'. 
A\'heii taken ]>i'isoner he made every effort to ;j,et a 
]tar(de, and, althonj^Ii the commander of the riufhc 
most honorably abetted these endeavors, T^jtton re- 
mained a common ]UMsoner. 

.\n American ]>risoner at (Jibraltar wrote from 
that place: " ( )nr fare is but scant, I can assure yon. 
\\'e are put on an allowance of six ounces jxm- man 
a day, and thai of condemned and rotten j)rovisions 
which IK* American would attempt to ji'ive to his 
doi^s. I'A'ery American master, mat(\ or seaman 
that is bi-ouiLiht here is stiapped of all his beddini;'. 
Pol- my part I was de]>rived of my last blanket, and 
even to the most tritlinu' things that were on board 
my ship. Cajdain S(dby, of the briii,- M(ir(/(ir<i, had 
his shirt stri]>]»e(l off his bacdv, and the last farthinu 
of money he had Avas also taken from him, aniount- 
inu' to tln-ee hundred and forty-six (b)llars, all of 
which was done bv order of the British commodore 



36G IN BRITISH PRISONS. 181:^. 

residing in Gibraltar.^ Before I was contined od 
board the floating dungeon, if it bad not been for the 
fresh fish that m3^ mate and myself caught along- 
side (all my crew being taken out on their arrival 
and put under close confinement) we must certainly 
have perishcMl." 

In August, 1813, a number of exchanged prison- 
ers arrived in Khode Island in a cartel, and the Provi- 
dence Pluenix has the following note concerning 
them: " Many of these prisoners, we learn, had been 
impressed, and some of them had been detained dur- 
ing eight long years. On being released on board 
the i)rison ships, after having refused to do duty in 
his Majesty's floating hells, their bodies were found 
to be scarred with wounds and their backs lacerated 
by stripes, inflicted upon them for their obstinacy in 
refusing to fight against their native countr}-." 

An American prisoner in the prison ship Samson, 
at Chatham, England, Avriting on June 8, 1813, says: 
" I have been now six weeks a prisoner, during which 
time I have been on board eleven of their floating- 
hells. In this ship, besides Americans, are five hun- 
dred Frenchmen, some of whom have been prison- 

' III strikiiiir contrast to tliis i)iratieal troatment wc have tlie following 
correspondence between Captain Bainbridge, of the Constitufion, and 
Lieutenant-General Hislop, who was captured in the Java, December, 
1812. Bainbridge wrote from San Salvador, January, 1813: " It is pain- 
ful for me to learn that you have lost the ])latc presented by the colony 
of D(Mnerara. It can not be found on board here, and I candidly believe 
it is not here. If, howeVer, it should be on board, it will bo found, and 
you may I'ely on my sending it to England for you. If it came from the 
Java, I liave no doubt it was taken among some other baggage." On the 
same day Lieutenant-General Ilislop wrote: "I am happy in being able 
to inform you that in opening the large cases of my baggage one of them 
has l>t'en foitnd to contain two chests, one of which jjroves to be the one 
wliich could not be accounted for, which mistake arose from the silver- 
smith in numbering the packages. I am extremely sorry that this circum- 
stance should have occasioned you any trouble, and beg to assure you 
that I shall always remain, with esteem and respect, dear sir, 
" Your very obedient servant, 

"T. Hislop." 



1813-1815. "FLOATING HELLS." 307 

ers ten years. Lice, hunger, and nakedness are no 
strangers here. There are one thousand two hun- 
dred Anu^rieans and five thousand French prisoners 
in this liarbor. Of the Americans about seven hun- 
dred have been heretofore impressed, and liave been 
sent here from on board English men-of-war. Would 
to (xod 1 were at home again! " 

IJut it was at Dartmoor Prison that the greatest 
atrocities were perpetrated against American pris- 
oners. Dartmoor Prison, or Depot, as it was called 
by the English, was about fifteen miles northeast 
of Plymouth, in the County of Devonshire. " Its ap- 
l)earance and situation," wrote an American who 
was confined there many months, " is the most un- 
pleasant and disagreeable imaginable. The country 
around, as far as the eye extends, is uneven, barren, 
and dreary; not a tree, shrub, or scarce a plant is 
seen for many miles round. Here and there appears 
a miserable thatcdied cottage whose outward ap- 
l)earance well bespeaks the misery and poverty that 
dwells within. Here no cheering prosix'ct greets 
the prisoner's eye; bountiful Nature denies all her 
sweets and seems to sympathize with the unhappy 
pi'isoiicrs. The climate is rather unhealthy; the 
])risoiu'rs are almost continually cold during nine 
iiioutlis of the year, owing ])robably to its height, 
it being ui)ward of one thousand seven humlred feet 
from the surface of the S(M." 

That the above description of the dreariness of 
Darliiioor is not exaggerated will be secMi by the 
following account taken fi'om a London ])eriodical 
pnblislied in ISSO, and referring to the condition of 
the moor in L'<4r): "Lost on the moor! . . . Scores 
of men had so VMiiished and been never heard of 
since. Natives, (»ven, accustomed to the dangers of 
bog, crag, and f(dl, of overA^lielming, blinding mist, 
of overtaking inghtfall, of the sudden, deep, obscur- 
ing snow, and of the btst track — natives alive to all 
these perils have been lost on the moor, nor an}' 



SOS 



IN BRITISH PRISONS. 



1813-1815. 



trace of them ever found. What woikU'I', theu, that 
a Londoner, entirely unused to and unknowing of 
the trea( liery lurking in sueh a Avild, should now 
and again share the same fate? The thing, indeed, 
was too common to create nun h more than a nine- 
days' astonishment.'' 




Dartmoor I'risou, when; many American jtrisoners were conlined. 

A more scathing commentarv on the brutality of 
selecting Dartmoor as a prison for American and 
French prisoners could not be had. These unfortu- 
nate men, being strangers in the country, of course 
were unaware of the dangers lurking in these bogs — 
dang(n's whi(di even the natives, though " alive to 
all these perils," have not been able to pass through 
in safety. What was the object, then, in i)lacing 
several thousands of Americans in this place? (\'V- 
tainly they would endeavor to escape, but in this 
case not to liberty, but to a horrible death in the 
bogs and crags. 

Dai'tmoor Prison was divided into seven yards, 
with adjoining apartments for the accommodation 
of prisom^'S at night, each of which was expected to 
hold fi'om one thousand one hundi'ed to one thou- 
sand live hundred men, guarded by two thousand 



18113-1815. DARTMOOR. ;3G9 

militia and two coiiipaiiies of artillery. The prisons 
were strongly bnilt of stone and sniTonnded by two 
circnlar walls, the onter wall measuring one mile 
in circninference. On the inner wall were military 
walks for sentinels. Within this wall were iron 
palisades, distant about twenty feet and ten feet in 
height. Adjoining the outer wall were guardhouses, 
]>hiced north, east, and south. There were separate 
yards whieh communicated witli each other through 
a passage about one hundr(Ml and fifty feet long ami 
twenty broad, guarded on each side by iron bars, 
over which, and fronting No. 4, was a military walk 
for sentinels. ()])])osite this passage was the market 
scpiare. The tirst yard contained three prisons, viz.: 
Nos. 1, 2, and 3, of which Nos. 1 and 3 only were (in 
1814) occupied. No. 2 standing vacant. The next 
yard. No. 4, was occupie<l solely by blacks, and was 
separated from the other yards by two stone walls 
about fifteen feet high. The next yard contained 
prisons Nos. 5, G, and 7, of whi(di only Nos. 5 and 7 
were occupied. No. (>, like No. 2, standing vacant. 
North of No. 1, between tlie inner wall and the iron 
I'ailings, was the place of punishment, four Ameri- 
cans having been sentenced to suffer imprisonment 
during the war for attempting to blow up prize 
shi])s. This prison was calculated to contain sixty 
men, who were allowed a blanket and straw bedding, 
Ihcir daily allowance of ])rovisions being consider- 
ably reduced. Fronting No. 4 yard was a wall sepa- 
rating it from the hos])ital, and fronting No. 3 was 
another wall separating it from the inner barracks. 
The market s(]uare was nearly square, and accommo- 
dat(Ml five thousand jkm-sous. It was opcMicd every 
day, Sundays excepted, at eleven o\4ock and close*! 
at two o'clock. At the upper part of the market 
were two stone houses — one for the prisoners and 
the other for stores. The other buildings attached 
to the depot were houses for the turnkeys, clerks, 
one for the agent, and another for the doctor. 



370 IN BRITISH PRISONS. 1812-1815. 

To enter either of the prison yards from without, 
it was necessary to pass througli five gates. Front- 
ing the outer gate was a reservoir of water, wliieh 
was briuiglit the distance of six miles by means of 
a canal. Tlie hospital was under the superintend- 
ence of a physician, wlio liad two assistants. Dr. 
(Jeorge M'(rrath, tlie sui)erintendent in 1S12-'15, was 
a man of eminence and skill, and will ever be remem- 
bered by Americans with esteem and respect. The 
sick uniformly received from him every attention. 
In 1815 there were live thousand six hundred Ameri- 
cans in this (h'pot, nearly one half of whom were 
seamen impressed Ixd'oi'e the war. 

(Jreat har(lshi])s were suffered by Americans in 
the winter of 18K1 '14, whii h proved to be unusually 
(•<»](!. Through the knavery of some British officials 
many of th(^ ])rison(M's had been robbed of most of 
thcii' «l(»thiug, and, though almost naked, they were 
not allowed to have any hres. It was not until April, 
1S14, that these sufferers received from ^Nlr. Beasly, 
the agciil of llie American ( Jov<'rnm('nt for our sea- 
men held as ]»risoners in (Jreat Britain, a suit of 
clothes and the allowance of two and a half pence 
a day. 

On the capture of the ])rivateer Rdtthsimh; in 
1811, her uhmi were thrown into Dartmoor Prison. 
In kec]iing with his reputation for needless cruelty, 
Major Thomas (leorge Shortland, who then com- 
manded the ]>rison, made no distinction between the 
officers and seamen of the privateer, but placed them 
all in one a])artm(Mit. Among the prisoners v.'as the 
second officer of th(^ U(tffh'snal\(\ who has concealed 
his idfMitity under the initials B. (1. Immediately 
upon his incarceration B. G. determined to make his 
escape, and with this object in view he secretly 
bought up all th(^ old ro])e-yai'n he could in the 
])ris()n, and made from it a rope eighty feet long, the 
distance from the top window of the prison in which 
he was contined to the ground. Bv some inaenious 



1814. A REMARKABLE ESCAPE. 371 

manner lie also succeeded in making a suit of uni- 
form like that worn by the sentinels, wliieli lie put 
on under a greatcoat of the same color and pattern 
worn by the guards. He had noticed that at night 
the sentinels were accustomed to carry th<4r mus- 
kets with muzzles downward and under their great- 
coats. Not being able to procure a musket, IJ. (}. 
secured an umbrella, whiidi, being concealed under 
his coat, with just the end exposed to yiew, made a 
good representation of a musket. 

Haying secured the countersign for the night 
from one of the sentinels for a consideration of six 
guineas, II. (}. lowered himself from his window one 
night shortly before twelye o'clock, when the guards 
were changed. As the gates were thrown open for 
the relief guards 11. G. boldly presented himself at 
the place with the other sentinels. He receiyed the 
usual challenge: 

" AVho goes there?" 

" A friend," was the answer, and on adyancing 
and giving the countersign he was told to pass. At 
this moment, howeyer, the sentinel who had betrayed 
the countersign to tlie prisoner for six guineas 
step])(Ml forward and tohl the gateman that the pre- 
tended sentinel was one of the ])risouers. The gate- 
man at first refus(Ml to credit this, but, on the traitor 
insisting, II. (j. was arrested and the deception dis- 
coyered. Infuriated by this treacdiery, I\. (J. sprang 
ujxtn the fellow and attempt(Ml to kill him with the 
only weapon he possessed, a dagger. The guards 
were too quick for liim, howeyer, and, being over- 
]»owered, K. G. was tlirown into the " black hole " 
and k(^pt there ten days on bi-ead and water. 

l>eiug brought before Shortland, T\. G. was asked 
how he succeeded in getting the countersign. He 
said: " If the man who gave it to me had behaved 
honorably, death could not have wrested the secret 
fi-oni nie. That is the character, sir, of the Americans 
— ahvavs true to their engagiMni^nts. But as the sol- 



IN BRITISH PRISONS. 1814. 



dicr evidently took my moiioy only to (Uneive me, 
I will turn the scale on him and expose his conduct. 

His name is . He gave me the countersign for 

six guineas, and then basely betrayed me." Assured 
of the sentinel's treachery, {^hortland had three 
hundred lashes applied to him. Again questioning 
]{. (i., Shortland said: "Mr. (}., I rc^spect you. Vou 
are a brave man, and if you will not attenii)t to 
escai)e again I will give you my honoi-, as a British 
officer, that you shall be ex(diang«Ml and go home 
in the tirst carted." ]Mr. (j. declined this offer, de- 
claring that he would make his escape that very 
night. 

As the guards had not noticed (he rope from tlu^ 
window, it seemed as if the daring prisoner nnght 
make good his threat, in S]>ite of Sliort land's declara- 
tion that th(^ sentries wouhl Ix^ doubled and a special 
watidi kept on him. The guards were doubhMl on 
the following night, but that very circumstance 
seemed to favor the i)risoner's atteni]»t, for su(di an 
unusual numl)er of sentinels caused some confusion 
at the gates when the r(di(^f came. True to his word, 
li. <r. made his second attem])t t<> esca]»e that night. 
Having ascei'tained the i)assword from another sen- 
tin(d for three guineas, he descended the ro])e just at 
midnight, and passed thr(tugh the gate with tlu^ other 
sentinels, having given the countersign " Wells." 
He was similarly challenged and examined several 
timers before getting (dear of the yard. On (dearing 
the ]>rison he made for tlx' coast, where he arrived 
almost famished. Finding an lS-f(M»t boat on the 
beach with only one oar in it, he ])ut to sea with the 
intention of gaining the coast of France, using his 
single oar as a rudder and his umbridla and great- 
coat as sails. When he had covered half tln^ dis- 
tance, a brig of war ])assed very (dose to him, but 
by taking in all his " sails " and lying down in the 
bottom of the I)oat he avoided detection. After a 
dangerous passage of thirty-six hours he reached the 



1815. DARTMOOR MASSACRE. 8^3 

coast of France, where lie was most hospitably re- 
ceived. 

The brutalities with which American prisoners in 
Dartmoor were treated reached a climax on April 
G, 1815, when, nnder tlu^ orders of the infamous 
Shortland, the entire i^nard of one thousand men 
was <tr<l(n*ed out and <leliberately tire<l V(»lley after 
volley into the thousands of unarmed and helpless 
men penned in the yards. The but( hery tocdc place 
on the evenini;- of A]>ril (>th. Shortland, about nine 
o\do(dv that nijiht, discovered a small hole that had 
been dui;' in one of the inner walls of the prison, and 
immediately jumited to the conclusion that an at- 
tempt to escap(^ was about to be made. The exist- 
ence of the h<de was known to not more than a 
quarter of the Americans confined in the place. 
Shortland had been to Plymouth that day, where he 
had been imbibing li<inor until, by the time he re- 
turned to the prison, he was in a drunken fury. lie 
had long' nourished a spite against his prisoners, 
wlii( h unfortunately had been encouraged by the 
bold aiul i>erhaps imprudent demeanor of our men, 
who, km)wing that peace had existiMl for several 
months, were angry at what, to them, seemed un- 
necessary delay. INIost of the men, knowing Short- 
land's resentment, very naturally attributed this ad- 
ditional vexation to his personal spite for them, and 
lost no opportunity for showing him " what they 
thought of him." Shortland, in the few preceding 
months, had frequently expressed his intention of 
" fixing the damned rascals " before they got beyond 
his power, and the discovery of the hole referred to 
gave him the desired excuse for calling out the entire 
guard. 

Immediately upon the rapid ringing of the alarm 
bell and the ordering out of the whole guard, the 
mass of the prisoners, who were peaceably walking 
about the yards, ignorant of the caus(» of these un- 
usual demonstrations, movtnl toward the gate, where 



374 ^N BRITISH PRISONS. 1815. 

alone tliej were able to discover what was goinj^: on. 
(Had of some excitement that would break the mo- 
notony of their imprisonment, the crowd of several 
thousand prisoners surged toward the gate, pushing 
and swaying in eager expectation of something 
new. Under the heavy pressure the gate gave way, 
forcing those in front into the second yard, while 
those behind, not knowing what had occurred, con- 
tinued to press on, pushing those nearest the gate- 
way fartluM' into the stn-ond yard. At this moment 
Shortland came into the inner s(]uar(» at the head 
of his men, while a large force of guards suddenly 
a]>pcare<l on the walls, ready to fire into the mass of 
human beings. The prisoners, not knowing that 
they were the object of this martial demonstration, 
continiKHl to press forward in their eagerness to wit- 
ness what was about to happen. At this moment 
one of the friendly British guards seized an oppor- 
tunity to warn one of the prisoners that they were 
about to be fired upon, whereupon there was a rush 
of the captives to regain their proper yard, and from 
thence to their cells or prison rooms. 

Observing that Shortland was about to begin a 
butchery of the helpless prisoners, the officers of the 
garrison declined to give the orders to fire, and re- 
signed their powers to Shortland. But the drunken 
brute was not thus to be thwarted of his blood- 
thirstj' purpose, and he gave the word for the sol- 
diers to fire. The command was (Obeyed, and several 
volleys were poured into the helpless mass of men as 
they struggled to pass through their own gate and 
regain their prisons. That the British soldiery ab- 
horred the criminal orders of Shortland is evidenced 
by the fact that a comparatively small number of 
men were struck, most of the bullets being aimed 
too high and taking effect on the surrounding walls. 
After the bulk of tho ]>risoners had gained the cover 
of their cells Shortland led a charge, sword in hand, 
and began a "■ valorous " (as it seemed to him in his 



1815. DARTMOOR MASSACRE. 375 

rum-erazed senses) assault on the few men wlio had 
not as yet gained the shelter of the cells. One of the 
prisoners afterward said, nnder oath: "Their mur- 
derous pursuers had now entered the 3'ard of each 
prison, making a general charge on man and boy, 
sheathing their ruthless bayonets in the bodies of 
the retreating prisoners, and completing the work of 
destruction by the discharge of another volley of 
musketry in the backs of the hindmost, who were 
forcing their passage over the wounded into their 
prison. Nor did they stoj) here, but patroled the yard 
to hnd some solitary- fugitive who had sought safety 
in flight. One poor, affrighted wretch had fled (dose 
to the wall of one of the i)ris()ns, fearing to move lest 
he should meet his death. Those demons of hell dis- 
covered him, and the bloody Shortland gave the fatal 
order to Are. In vain the trembling victim fell on his 
knees, and in that imploring attitude besought their 
compassion, begged them to spare a life almost ex- 
hausted by suffering and confinement. He pleaded 
to brutes; he appealed to tigers; 'Fire!' cried 
Shortland, and several balls w^ere disc harged into 
his bosom. 

'' One circumstance that occurred during the 
massacre ought not to be omitted. One of the Brit- 
ish soldiers belonging to the same regiment that per- 
formed this work was lighting a lamp at the door of 
prison No. 3 when the carnage commenced, and in 
the hurry of retreat he was forced inside among the 
w^ounded and exasperated prisoners. In the height 
of their resentment the eye of vengeance was for a 
moment directed to the only enemy that chance 
had thus thrown in their power. It was but for a 
moment. The dignity of the American character was 
not thus to be sullied. To the astonishment of this 
aif righted soldier, who was expecting every moment 
to be immolated on the altar of revenge as some 
atonement for the manes of our murdered country- 
men, he received assurances of safety and protec- 



;;7(j IN BRITISH PRISONS. 1815. 

tiou. Accordiiiiily, when the doors were opened to 
discharge tlie wounded, this man was delivered up 
to liis astonished comrades in i)erfeet safety." 

Satished witli having " fixed the damned rascals " 
jo the extent of seven men killed and sixty wounded, 
Shortland withdrew his trooi)S, and, as if to cover 
his i^uilt, sent a dis])atch to IMymouth statin*;- his 
" daniicr," and on the followini;- day a strong' reen- 
foi'ccnicnt ai-rived. It is ncedh'ss to say that every 
honorable IJritish otticer wlio witnoss(Ml the butcliery 
and tlie sc(^n(^ of it afterward denounced, in ])rivate, 
Sliorthind as a cowardly cur, tliou^li in their oflicial 
ca])acity they were compcUcd to i;ive some colo]- to 
his faint-hearted ])lea of " duty." The matter was 
thorouuldy investigated on hotli si(h'S, and it leaves 
no room foi" doubt that tiu' entire disgraceful occur- 
rence^ was the result of tlu' lonju'-ix'nt spite of a 
diMinhen oftictn- wlio could not allow the objects of 
his cowardly enmity to esca]>e him without one 
chance at " satisfaction." 



CHAPTER XIII. 

THE rillNCE DE NEUCHATEL, 

One of the most roniarkable actions of this war 
ill which an American privateer was eni;a<2,(Ml was 
that between the Britisli 4()-j;nn frigate J-JiHli/iiiioH, 
Captain Henry Hope, and the armed ship Prince dv 
NcHchdtc], of New Yorlv. Tlie extraordinary feature 
of this affair lies in tlie fact that a vessel fitted out at 
private expense actually frustrated the utmost en- 
deavors of an Enj^lish fri<2,ate, of vastly superior 
force in jiuns and men, to capture the privateer. As 
the commander of the Eiidjiininu said, he lost as many 
men in his efforts to seize the Prince de Neticlidtcl as 
he would have done had his ship enoaiied a regular 
man-or-war of equal force, and he oenerously ac- 
knowle<lii(Ml that the people in the privateer con- 
ducted their defense in the most heroic and skillful 
manner. 

That this de(da ration of Captain Hope was sin- 
gularly proplu^tic will be seen in the fact that this 
same Piidj/inioii, only three months after her disas- 
trous attacdc on the ]*ruice de XeiicJidteJ, had a run- 
ning fight of two and a half hours' duration with 
the Ignited States 44-gun frigate President, a sister 
ship of the famous Constihition, and a vessel "of 
equal force " to the Endjiniion. In the latter affair 
the Endi/inion had eleven men killed and fourteen 
wounded, a total of tw(Mity-five out of a com])lenieiit 
of three hundred and fifty. In her attack on the pri- 
vateer the Endi/tnion had forty-nine killed, thirty- 
27 377 



37S THE PRINCE DE NEUCHATEL. 1814. 

seven wounded, and thirty of her crew were made 
prisoners, a total of one hundred and sixteen as 
against the total of twenty-five in her encounter 
with the President — a ship '' of equal force." From 
these statements it will be seen that the privateer 
had quite as severe a fight as the PrcsUlfni, and on 
this occasion contributed fully as much to the glory 
of American maritime prowess. 

This notabh^ action occurred off Nantmdvet on 
the night of October 11, 1814. The Pniur dr Nck- 
cJidtel, commanded by Captain J. Ordronaux, was 
considered a " splendid vessel " in her day. She was 
a hermaphrodite-rigged craft of three hundred and 
ten tons — the J'JikIi/iu'khi measuring about one thou- 
sand four hundred tons — and mounted seventeen 
guns as against the Englishman's fifty guns, to say 
nothing of the latter's immensely larger calibers. 
Her complement when she left New York on her 
most eventful cruise was about eighty men and 
boys, whi(di number had been reduced by drafts for 
prize crews to thirty-seven. The Prince de Neiielidtel 
belong(Ml to the estate of ISIrs Charrten, of New 
York, who had recently died. This privateer was 
one of the many " hudcy vessels " of the war, and 
made several ]n*ofitable cruises, in the course of 
\vhi(di she was <-hased by seventeen different men- 
of-war, but always managed to escape through supe- 
v'lov seamanshii) and her great speed. The goods 
cai)ture(l by her from the enemy and brought safely 
into i)ort sold for nearly three millions of dollars, 
besides which a large amount of specie was secured. 

This vcss(d did not begin her career as a war 
craft until the spring of 1814, at whi(di time she was 
in Cherbourg, France. Here she was armed and 
fitted out as a private(^r, and early in jNIarch she 
plunged into tlie thi( kest of British commerce in the 
English Channel, and in one brief cruise made nine 
valuable prizes, most of which arrived safely in 
French ports, while those of little value were burned. 



1,S14. IN THE CHOPS OF THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. 'ItJ) 

In June the Prince dv Xciiclidtvl made another dash 
against the enemy's shipping, sending six prizes into 
Havre between the 4th and 10th of that month, which 
were sold. In August this commerce destroyer was 
in the Irish Channel, where she came across a brig 
that refused to surrender, whereupon a broadside 
was poured into the stubborn mer(diant craft and 
she sank. In September the Piiiicc <lv XchcIkIIcI de- 
stroyed the brigs Hhadu, Jiuiics, Triton (of two guns, 
laden with coffee and wine), Apollo, SiJn-on, AJhio)), 
(liarloUc, and Mdri/ Ami, besides the sloops J(i)H' and 
(icorijc, and the cutter (IciicniJ />o///r. She also cap- 
tured and destroyed the transport A(troii, of four 
guns, from (iibraltar for Lisbon, an<l converted the 
following prizes into cartels in order to get rid (»f 
her constantly accumulating pi-isoners — the brigs 
liurcjrlck Pacl-cf, from Cork for P>risto^, which had 
fifty ])assengers aboard, and Ni/iiiplt. She also cap- 
tured the ship Haniioiii/, of four guns, and an English 
privateer; but the latter was allowed to escape, as, 
just at th(^ moment of taking possession, a suspicious 
sail hove in sight whi( h proved to be a large war 
vessel, and the Prince de XeiicJidtel was compelled to 
make sail in flight. A prize crew had been placed 
in the JI<irinoni/, with orders to make for the ITnited 
States, but a few days later that ship was recap- 
tured. Instead of returning to a French port after 
lier last cruise, as had been her custom, the Prince 
de XeiicJidfe] made directly for Boston, where she re- 
fitted and put to sea again early in October. 

ra])taiu Ordronaux, of the Prince de Neiichdfel, 
was a seaman of unusual ability. At the outbreak 
of hostilities between the United States and Great 
Britain he comman<led the Fren(di privateer Ma- 
remjo. It was this vessel that Captain TJichard 
Byron, of the British 3G-gun frigate Pelridera, was 
so earnestly watcliing, on June 23, 1812, off these 
same Nantucket Shoals, wlien Captain John Eodg- 
ers" squadron, having the President as a flagship, 



380 THE PRINCE DE NEUCHATEL. 1814. 

came along and chased the Englishman away. At 
that time the Marcuf/o was in New London, quite as 
earnestly watching for a chance to pounce upon the 
English brig Ladi/ Slicrlocky expected dail^^ from Hali- 
fax bound for Jamaica with an exceedingly valu- 
able cai'go. It proved to be very much like a cat 
watching a mouse to prevent it from getting a 
morsel of cheese when the bulldog Ilodgers came 
tumbling along, chased the cat, Bclridcra, into Hali- 
fax, when the mouse, Mfurin/o, pounced upon the 
unsuspecting Ladi/ Slicrlock as she was passing by 
and carried her safely into New York, August 10, 
1812. 

It was on the very scene of this cat-dog-mouse- 
and-cheese comed,y, enacted in 1812, that the Prince 
(le Nruclidtel, on the night of October 11, 1814, made 
one of the most heroic defenses in maritime history. 
At this time the British squadron blockading the 
port of New York consisted of the 56-gun frigate 
M<ij(sti(% Captain John Hayes; the 40-gun frigate 
Endi/niioii, Captain Henry Hope; and the 38-gun 
frigate PoiiKtue, Captain Jolm Eichard Lumley. The 
Etidi/ntion had been sent to Halifax for repairs, and 
it was while she was returning from that port to 
her station off New York that she fell in with the 
Prince dc Nciiclidtcl. 

At noon, ()ctfd)er 11th — October 0th according to 
English accounts — while the Prince de Neiiclidfe], 
then only a few days out of Boston, was about 
half a mile to the south of Nantucket Shoals, Cap- 
tain Ordronaux discovered a sail off Gay Head, 
and as it promptly gave chase he was satisfied that 
it was a ship of force, and made his preparations 
accordingly. Knowing that few, if any, of the 
American frigates were on the high seas at that 
time, owing to the rigor of the British blockade, 
Ca])tain Ordronaux made every effort to escape, 
being satisfied that the stranger was a British 
frigate. Unfortunately for the privateer, she was 



1814. A SANGUINARY BOAT ATTACK. 381 

SO situated as to be becalmed at the moment, while 
the straiiger was holding a fresh breeze and coming 
up ver^' fast. The Prince dc Nciichdttl had in tow the 
jn'ize she recently captured, the English merchant 
shi]) Doiif/hiss, which the Americans were anxious to 
get safely into port. 

At three o'clock in the afternoon the privateer 
caught the breeze, and, as the Englishman was still 
some twelve miles distant, hopes were entertained 
of effecting a timely retreat. By seven o'clock in 
the evening it was calm, at which time the three 
vessels were in sight of one another. Finding that 
the current was sweei)ing him shctreward. Captain 
Ordronaux cast off his tow, and the two vessels came 
to amdior about a (}uarter of a mile apart. 

An hour and a half later, when it was (juite dark, 
the people in the prize signaled, as i)reviousl3^ 
agreed upon, that several boats were approaching 
from the frigate, api)arently with the intention of 
atacking the i)rivateer under cover of night. Ob- 
serving the signal. Captain Ordronaux called all 
hands, and made every preparation for giving the 
British a warm recei)tion. As soon as the English 
boats, whi( h were under the command of Lieuten- 
ant Abel Hawkins, the first lieutenant of the Endym- 
ioii, could be distinguished in the night, the priva- 
teer began a rapid discharge of her great guns and 
small arms. Paying no attention whatever to this, 
the English gallantly dashed ahead, and in a few 
moments were alongside the Prince de XeiicJidte] and 
endeavoring to clamber up her sides. The enemy 
had i)lanned the attack with considerable skill, for 
almost at the same moment it was reported to Cap- 
tain Ordronaux that an English boat was on eacdi 
side, one on each bow and one under the stern — five 
craft in all, completely surrounding the privateer, 
and compelling her crew to face five different points 
of attack at once. 

This was the beginning of a desperate and bloody 



382 THE PRINCE DE NEUCHATEL. 1814, 

struggle, in wliic-li meii fought like wild beasts and 
grappled with each other in deadly embrace. 
Knives, pistols, cutlasses, marline spikes, belaying 
pins — anything that could deal an effective blow — 
were in requisition, while even bare fists, finger nails, 
and teeth came into play. Captain Ordronaux him- 
self fired some eighty shots at the enemy. Springing 
up the sides of th(^ vessel the British would endeavor 
to gain her deck, but every attempt was met with 
deadly blows by the sturdy defenders of the craft. 
A few of the British succeeded in gaining the decks 
and to(dv the Americans in the rear, but the latter 
l)i'(»uii)tly turned on the enemy and dispatched them. 
It was W(dl understood by tlu^ crew of the i)rivateer 
that Captain Ordronaux had avowed his determina- 
tion of never being taken alive by the British, and 
that he would bh>w up his sliij), with all hands, before 
striking his colors. At one period of the fight, when 
the British had gained the deck, and were gradually 
driving the Americans back, Ordi'onaux seized 
a lighted matcli, ran to the com])anion way, directly 
over the magazine, and called <tut to his men that 
h(^ would blow the ship up if they retreated further. 
The threat had the desired effect, the Americans 
rallied for a final struggle, overpowered the enemy, 
and drove the few survivors into their boats. 

Su(di a sanguinary fight could not be of long 
duraticm, and at the end of twcMity minutes the Eng- 
lish cried out for (iuart<^r, ui»on which the Americans 
ceased firing. It was found that of the five barges 
one had been sunk, three had drifted off from along- 
side apparently without a living person iu them, 
and tlie fifth boat was taken possession of by the 
Americans. There wcn^e fcn-ty-three men in the barge 
that was sunk, of whom only two were rescm^l; 
the remainder, it is supposed, were caught by the 
swift current, carried beyond the rea(di of help, and 
drowned. The l)oat seizccl by the Americans con- 
tained thirty-six men at the beginning of the action, 



1814. DREADFUL SLAUGHTER OF THE ENGLISH. 383 

of whom eight were killed and twenty were wounded, 
leaving only eight unhurt. The entire number of 
men in the live barges was one hundred and twenty, 
including the officers, marines, and boys. The entire 
number of men in the privateer lit for duty at 
the beginning of the action was thirty-seven, of 
whom seven were killed and twenty-four wounded. 
Among the killed was Charles Ililburn, a Nantucket 
pilot, who had been taken out of a fishing vessel. 
Among the British killed were First Lieutenant 
Hawkins and a master's mate, while the second lieu- 
tenant, two master's mates, and two midshipmen 
were wounded. 

'' So determined and effective a resistance," says 
an English naval historian, " did great credit to the 
American cai)tain and his crew. On the 31st the 
Kiuhpiilon fell in with the 5G-gun ship ><(iiiirn, Cap- 
tain James Nash, bound for Halifax, and, sending on 
board, with her surgeon and his servant, twenty- 
eight wounded officers and men, received from the 
Saturn, to replace the severe loss she had sustained, 
one lieutenant, four midshipmen, and thirty-three 
seamen and marines." 

Captain Ordronaux now found himself in posses- 
sion of so many prisoners that they outnumbered 
his own able-bodied men, there remaining only eight 
seamen unhurt in the privateer, while there were 
tliirty prisoners to take care of. As a matter of 
precaution. Captain Crdronaux allowed only the 
second lieutenant of the EtKlj/iiiioJi, three midship- 
men — two of them desperately wounded — and one 
wounded master's mate to come aboard; while the 
other prisi^ners, after having all their arms, oars, 
etc., taken from them, were kept in the launch under 
the stern of the Priiicr dc NciichafvJ, where there 
would be less danger of attem]>ting to overpower 
the few surviving Americans, capture the ship, and 
release their officers. 

Anxious to be rid of his dangerous prisoners 



384 THE PRINCE DE NEUCHATEL. 1814. 

Captain Ordronaiix, on the following morning, 
signed an agreement with the lieutenant, midship- 
men, and master's mates, in behalf of themselves 
and the British seamen and marines, not to serve 
against the United States again in this war unless 
duly exchanged. Under this agreement the prison- 
ers were placed on shore at Nantucket by the priva- 
teer's launch, and were taken charge of by the United 
States marshal. ^Nlost of the American and English 
wounded also were sent ashore, where they could se- 
cure better attention. The Prince dc NciichafcJ, as soon 
as the wind served, got under way, and easily evading 
the Eiuijiin'unt, ran into Boston Harbor, October 15th. 
On gaining i)ort Captain Ordronaux retired from 
the command of this lucky i)rivateer and became 
a part owner. Her first officer in the fight with the 
Eii<]i/niioii succeeded to the command after promis- 
ing '' never to surrender the craft." He is described 
by one of the crew as " a Jew by i)ersuasion, a 
Frenchman by birth, an American for convenience, 
and so diminutive in stature as to make it appear 
ridiculous, in the eyes of others, even for him to 
enforce authority among a hardy, weather-beaten 
crew should they do aught against his will." Her 
first officer is described as " a man who never uttered 
an angry or harsh word, made no use of profane 
language, but was terrible, even in his mildness, 
when faults occurred through carelessness or neg- 
lect. He knew what each man's duty was and his 
capacity for fulfilling it, never putting more to the 
men's tasks than thi^A' were able to get through 
with; but (^wry jot and tittle must be performed, 
and that to the wry letter, without fiinching, or the 
task would be doubled. Whih^ maneuvering the men 
he would go through with the various duties with- 
out oaths, bluster, or even loud words, and do more 
in less time than all tlie other officers on board, with 
their harsh threatenings, ])rofane swearings, or loud 
bawlings through their si)eaking trumpets. The 



1814. NEGLIGENCE OF AN OFFICER. 385 

men honored and obeyed him, and would have fought 
with any odds at his bidding." The second officer 
was put down as a '' mere nobody.'' The third offi- 
cer had been a warrant officer in the Const it utiori 
during her engagements with the (iiicrrivrc and 
Java, but was discharged for " unofficer-like con- 
duct," and had shipi)ed in the Prince <Ic Neuchdtel. 
He proved to be an indifferent officer, and his negli- 
gence was the cause of the capture of the privateer 
on her next cruise. 

On the night of December 21st the Prince de 
Neuchdtel, in spite of the vigilance of the British 
blockading force off Boston, got to sea. On the fifth 
day out she encountered a terrific storm which lasted 
several days, and came near ending the career of this 
formidable craft. " The morning of December 2Sth," 
records one of the American crew, " broke with no 
prospect of the gale ceasing, and the brig looked 
more like a wreck than the stanch and proud craft 
of the week previous. She was stripped to her 
stumps, all her yards, except her fore and fore-top- 
sail, were on deck, her rigging in disorder, and the 
decks lumbered and in confusion from the effects of 
the sea which had so often broken over them during 
the past night. ^luch of this confusion was at- 
tributable to the third officer, who had the watch 
from 4 A. M. to 8 a. m. AA'lien he was relieved by the 
first officer, at 8 a. m., the latter severely repri- 
manded the third officer, and, among otlier things, 
asked if a sharp lookout had been maintained, and 
replied that the last man sent to the masthead had 
left his post without being relieved, and without the 
third officer knowing that the brig had been with- 
out a lookout all tliat time. ... I saw the fire — or, 
what was its equal, anger — flash from the first lieu- 
tenant's eyes at this remissness of duty, and he in- 
stantly gave an order for the best man on board to 
go to the masthead, there to remain till ordered 
down." This man had not been at his post ten min- 



386 THE PRINCE DE NEUCHATEL. 1814. 

utes when he reported a large sail bearing down on 
the Prince dc NvitcJtatel, and shortly afterward two 
others, apparently heavj' men-of-war, making every 
effort to close on the privateer. These strangers 
were, in fact, the British frigates Leandvv, Xeicca.stle, 
and Aca.sfd, composing Sir George Collier's squadron, 
which had been off' Boston, but was now hastening 
across the Atlantic in search of the Constltiitioit, 
which had eluded them off Boston and was now at 
sea.^ 

As soon as the strangers were discovered the 
Princi' dc Nciichdtcl was put on her best point of sail- 
ing, but in spite of every effort — the massive frigates 
having a great advantage over her in the heavy seas 
and wind — she was soon surrounded and captured. 
Only a few minutes after the surrender one of the 
frigates lost her jib boom, fore and main topgallant 
masts and broke her niizzeu toi)sail yard in the 
slings, while another frigate carried away her miz- 
zen topsail, main topgallant yard, and strained her 
fore-toi)sail yard so as to endanger it by carrying- 
sail. Had the approach of the enemy been discov- 
ered when tlH\v made out the privateer the Prince 
dc Nciicliafc] would have escaped. 

" At the time of our capture," said one of the 
privateer's crew, " there were on board five or six 
I'^rench and Portuguese seamen who had belonged 
to the brig during her former cruisings, and who ap- 
])eared to be on good terms with the captain but 
had no intercourse with the crew. They messed by 
themselves and had as little to say to the Ameri- 
cans as the Americans manifested disposition to 
associate with them. These men were overheard to 
say, more than once during the chase, tluit the brig 
never would be taken by the frigat(^s, assigning no 

' For an aecmir.t, of the remarkable escape of Old Ironsides from 
Boston and lier chase by this squadron, see Maclay's History of the Navy, 
vol. i, pp. 022-639. 



1814. A DASTARDLY ATTEMPT FRUSTRATED. 387 

reason why only, ' She shall never be under a Brit- 
ish flag'.' One of the men had been a prisoner of 
war ten times, and declared he would sooner go to 
tlie bottom of the ocean than again to prison. To 
this no one objected, provided he went without com- 
l)any; for he was a Frenchman by birth, a Calmuc 
in appearance, a savage in disposition, a cutthroat 
jit heart, and a devil incarnate. Our first lieutenant 
kept a sti'ict eye upon this coterie during the whole 
day that the chase continued, the idea strengthen- 
ing, as the captain held on his course long after any 
hope remained of the chance <»f getting clear of 
the frigates, that all was not right. In the hurry of 
the moment [the surrender] at our rounding to, 
Jose, one of the men above spoken of, seized a brand 
fi-oiii the caboose, i)rocecdtMl toward the magazine, 
and would have carried liis diabolical intentions into 
effect only for the vigilance of our ever-watchful 
lieutenant, who checked him ere too late, brought 
him on deck, nor quit his hold till the brand was 
cast overboard and the dastard thrown thrice his 
length by an indignant thrust of the lieutenant's 
powerful arm." 

^\'ith much ditliculty a small boarding party from 
the Ijinidcr took ])ossession of the privateer, but as 
the sea and wind remained heavy it was found to be 
impossible to send a second detachment aboard. 
Realizing their advantage, the American officers, 
about half an hour before midnight, rallied their men, 
with a vi(nv of recapturing the brig, but on gaining 
the deck they observed that the condition of her 
s])ars and sails was such as to render such a move 
hopeless and the attempt was given up. On the 
following day the prisoners were taken aboard 
the Lcdiidcr, where the Americans noticed a large 
])lacard nailed to her mainmast, on which were 
written these words: "Reward of £100 to the 
man who shall first descry the American frigate 
Const ihilioii provided she can be brought to, and 



388 THE PRINCE DE NEUCHATEL. 1814. 

a smaller reward should they not be enabled 
to come up with her." The Lcaiuler had been 
fitted out expressly to capture Old Iroiisiilcs, and had 
a picked crew of more than five hundred men. 
"Every one [in the lA'diider'],'' continues the record, 
" was eaj^er in his in(|uiries about this far-famed frig- 
ate, and most of the men appeared anxious to fall 
in with her, she beint;' a constant theme of conversa- 
tion, speculation, and curiosity. There were, how- 
ever, two seamen and a marine — one of whom had 
had his shin sadly shattered from one of her [the 
('()ii.sfifiit}<nrs^ grapeshot — who were in the frigate 
Jura when she was captured. These I have often 
heard say, in return to their shi]>mat(^s' boastings: 
'If you had seen as much of the CoiisHtiiHon as we 
have, you would give her a wide berth, for she 
throws her sliot almighty careless, fires quick, aims 
low, and is altogether an ugly customer.' " 

The thoroughly American spirit of the Prince de 
NciiclidtcVs crew is well brouglit out in the account 
of one of her men. After being taken aboard the 
Lvdiidcr the i>risoners were stowed away in the cable 
tier — a miserable hole at the bottom of the ship, 
wher(» the anchor cables were stored. Here the 
Americans were compelled to remain from 4 p. M. 
to 8 A. M. evinw twenty-four hours. To while away 
the time they resorted to singing. " One night," 
says one of the men, '' it was understood that some 
of our naval-victory songs were not widl relished by 
the officers on deck, which only brought out others 
with a louder chorus than before and an extra 
'hurrah for the Yankee thunders."' At this half a 
dozen of the best English songsters were picked, 
with souH^ dozen to join in their choruses. These 
assembled around the hatch above us for the pur- 
pose of silencing us, singing us down, or to rival us 
in noisy melody and patriotic verse. They were al- 
lowed to finish their songs unmolested by us, but the 
moment they were through we struck up with ours, 



1814. A BATTLE OP SONGS. 389 

each one striving to outdo his shipmate, especially 
in the choruses. Knowing that the character of our 
country was at stake, and that it depended much 
upon our zeal and good management whether it 
should be upheld in the face of our enemies, we 
strove accordingly to do our best as its representa- 
tives. . . . The contest was kept up for some time, 
evidently to our advantage, not only as to the quality 
of the singing — for in this our opponents could not 
hold their own a moment — but to the number and 
subject of the songs, they having run out with their 
victories over the Yankees before our party was 
fairly warm with the contest. That tlK\y should not 
flag at the game, they took up with the First of 
June, the Battle of the Nile, besides many otlu^'S, 
and we told them, in plain English, that they were 
dodging the contest. This they cared far less for 
than they did for a home-thrust victory over them 
from the Yankees to each one of theirs over the 
r^rench. At last our fire became so warm that they 
were compelled to back out, (dioj^fallen, and they 
had the satisfaction of having their defeat an- 
nounced to all on board by three-timcs-three cheers 
from the victors, accompanied with the (daj^ping of 
hands and such other noises as each and all could 
invent in our zeal to outdo one another and uphold 
the honor of the country we hailed from, whose em- 
blem is the Stars and Stripes. 

"^ Word came from the deck that such noises 
could not be tolerated and that we must be quiet. 
This only aroused the prisoners to greater exertions. 
... In a few minutes the officer of the deck came 
down with blustering threats. If the most savage 
Iribe of Indians had at once broken loose with a 
terrific war whoop it could not have been louder nor 
more grating to the ear than tho screamings that 
followed tli(^ termination of 11h^ watcdi officer's 
speech, who, when he could get a hearing, tried to 
reason as to the absurdity of the prisoners persist- 



390 THE PRINCE DE NEUCHATEL. 1814-1815. 

ing, saying, ' The order of the ship must and shall be 
maintained; if by no other means, I will order the 
marines to fire into the hold.' This threat also was 
responded to by jeers, and soon afterward a line of 
marines drew up nt the hatchway and prepared to 
shoot. This menace was met Avitli louder jeers than 
before. 

"'Crack away, my Johnny! You can make killing 
no murder, but you can't easily mend the shot holes 
in your best bower cable!' 'Hurrah for Old Iron- 
sides!' 'Three cheers for the gallant Perry!' 
' Down here, you Johnny Bull, and learn manners 
from your betters!' were a few of the shouts that 
saluted the ears of the marines. The officer, not 
daring to fire on the prisoners, now withdrew his 
marines, and was followed by the d<n'isive shouts of 
the prisoners. . . . The noises were kept up till 
morning broke, not allowing the wardroom officers a 
moment's rest, as they were situated on the deck 
immediately above us." The next night the prison- 
ers began their pandemonium again, but the officers 
arranged a number of 42-pound sliot on the de(dv, just 
over the prisoners' heads, and started them rolling. 
" As they passed from one side to the other, at each 
roll of the ship, with a low, harsh, thunder-like rum- 
bling, as deafening as dreadful, and more horrible 
tlian the booming of ten thousand Chinese gongs, in- 
termingling with as many bell cla]>pers, set in mo- 
tion by one who is sworn to drown all else by his 
own noisy (datter, they made a noise little less than 
a discharge of artillery." This proved to be too 
much for our gallant tars, and they gradually gave 
up the contest. 

Arriving at Fayal, Sir C.eorge transferred his 
prisoners to the sloop of war /'licasaiit, in which 
they were taken to England, while he resumed his 
search for the Coitst'ihilioii} 

' See Maclay's History of the Navy, vol. i, pp. 622-639. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

CRUISES OF THE GRAND TURK. 

The escape of the United States 44-i;uii frigate 
Coiistilut'um, Taptain Isaac Hull, from a powerful 
British scinadron off Sandy II(K)k, early in the War 
of 1812, has justly bec^n regarded as one of most 
extraordinar}' feats of seamanship on record. Ci\\)- 
tain Hull won for himself and the service lasting- 
fame by his masterly handling of the (J(}iistifnti<ni, 
and it is interesting to record that probably the 
nearest approaidi to this famous chase was tliat of 
the American privateer (U'iuid TiirJc by a British 
squadron, ^larch, 1815, off Pernambuco, in wliicli 
the privateer escaped only by the superb seaman- 
ship of her commander, Nathan Green. 

The (>f(ui(J Tiirlx, a 310-ton ship, was built for a 
privateer in the shipyards of Sah^n by Elias Hasket 
Derby toward the close of the Revolution, and made 
a number of prizes. " The war being ovc^'," wrote 
Thomas Wentworth Higginson, " she was sent by 
her owner on the first American voyage to the Cape 
of (Jood Hope in 1781, the cargo consisting largely 
of rum. The voyage proved profitable, and Captain 
Jonathan Ingersoll, her commander, bought in the 
West Indies on his return enough of Grenada rum 
to load two vessels, sent home tlie (IniiuJ Turk, and 
came himself in the Atlaiific. On the way he rescued 
the captain and mate of an English scdiooner, the 
Aiiiiti/, whose crew had mutinied and set them adrift 
in a boat. By one of those singular coincidences 

391 



392 CRUISES OF THE GRAND TURK. 1813. 

of which maritime life then seemed to yiekl so many, 
this very schooner was afterward recaptured in 
Salem harbor in this way: After their arrival the 
captain of the Ainiti/ was sitting with Mr. Derby in 
his countingroom, and presently saw through the 
spyglass his own vessel in the offing. Mr. Derby 
promptly put two pieces of ordnance on board one 
of his brigs, and gave the P^nglish captain the un- 
looked-for pleasure of recapturing the Aiiiitj/, whose 
mutineers had no reason to suppose that they 
should happen u})on the precise port into which 
their victims had been carried. This was not the 
only pioneer expedition of the (Jraud TiirJ{, which 
also made, in 1785-'8(>, the first voyage direct from 
New England to the Isle of France and China." 

When the War of 1812 broke out the (Iniiid Turk 
was refitted as a privateer, carrying eighteen guns 
and a comi)lement of one hundred and fifty men. 
At first she had as her commander lloltiMi J. Breed, 
but toward the (dose of the war she was commanded 
by Nathan (rreen. Her first venture was made early 
in 1813, when she ran down to tlu^ coast of Brazil, 
cruised some time in the West Indies, and late in 
May put into Portland, Maine. In this time the 
Grand Turk ca]»tured three large vessels carrying 
heavy armaments and a schooner, all of which were 
ordered to France. 

In her second cruise, whi(di was begun in July, 
1813, the (Inntd Turk made directly for European 
waters. On her voyage across the Atlantic she cap- 
tured the schooner Ixchccca, from Halifax bound for 
Bermuda, laden with live sto(dv and provisions, 
which was sent into Portsmouth. Beaching the 
other side of tlie ocean, the Grand Turk cruised for 
twenty days in the (dio])s of the English Channel 
without meeting a British war craft of any descrip- 
tion. She came across many of their merchantmen, 
however, and took, in rapid succession, the schooner 
Agnes, laden with fish, which was sent into a French 



1813. A LUCKY CRUISE. 393 

port; the ship WiJli<nii, of ten guns, having a valu- 
able cargo of drygoods, crates, wine, etc., from 
Cork for Buenos Ayres, which wns sent into Salem; 
the brig I ikJ'kiii Lass, from Liverpool for St. ^NFichael, 
with drygoods, whi(di also was sent into Salem with 
thirty prisoners; the brig ('(itlHiriiir, from Tjisbon for 
London; and the schooner BriiiuniUt, for the West 
Indies, which was sent into Portland. The Catha- 
rlne shortly aft(M'ward was reca]»tured by the Eng- 
lish brig of war Bucchiis, but before the prize could 
gain port the (ifdiid Turk again loomed up on her 
horizon and seized her for the second time. To make 
sure that she would not again fall into the hands 
of the enemy, the Americans, after taking out the 
most valuable ])ortion of the cargo, burned her. 

Continuing her cruise in lilnglish waters, the 
Gnnid Tiirl- added to her list of valuable prizes the 
sloop (UiralUiVy from London for St. Michael, laden 
with drygoods. The cargo was transferred to the 
privateer, but the sloop being of little value, and 
the ])risoners in the ])rivateer becoming so numer- 
ous as t<> be dangin-ous, the (^'(iroJ'nic was released 
and ordered to the nearest ])ort with the prisoners. 
Soon afterward the ])rivateer captured the merchant- 
man (U)ss(icJ,\ laden with wine. This vessfd was re- 
captur(^d by the T4-gun ship of tln^ line Jinhntfl-, but, 
like the (Uitlidi-iiic, was again ca])tured by the Ameri- 
cans; this time by the ])rivateer Siirpfisc, of Balti- 
more, and was sent into Salem. After burning or 
siidving the schooner l*hil{\ the brig JirofJicrs, from 
St. John's for Li^■er])oo], ^^iill lumber aboard; the 
brig liohcii Sfcirdrt, also with luml)er; the schooner 
(U)})iiii<'n-(\ laden with tish; and r(deasing the brig 
Hch/radc, from Malta for l-'almouth — after taking 
some guns out of her — the (iraiifJ 'furl- r(4urned to 
Salem in November, L*^13, having made a cruise of 
one hundi'cd and three days, and with only forty- 
four men of her original com])lement of one hundred 
and fifty left. One of her prizes had a cargo in- 

28 



804 



(BRUISES OF THE GRAND TURK. 



1815. 



voiced at thirty tbonsand pounds sterling. This pri- 
vateer made one or two more short rnns to sea with 
fairly good suecess, but it was on her last cruise, 
when under the command of Captain Nathan Green, 
that she made her greatest reputation. 




New YorkT^^^^"°''"^^ "°''^ 




Jlaraiihuiu ^\^.St.Roqiie 
PtTuambucojT' 
Baliia 




Sfone (if tlio (jvand Turk's (i])cratiniis. 

Half an hour after noctn on Sunday, January 1, 
1S15, Captain Green st()W(Ml his anchors away and 
cleared his deck preparatory for sailing from t^alem, 
and at 2 p. m. he passed Baker's Island. Nothing 
more than an occasional glimpse of a British frig- 
ate or a shi]> of the lin(% to which the (Irand Turk 
promi)tly showed a clean ])air of heels, served to 
break Ihe monotony of the cruise until 3.30 p.m., 
February 17th, when the i)rivateer was in the vicin- 
ity of Pernambuco. At that time a small sail was 
sighted, which ])roved to be a catamaran, and for 



1815. WAITING FOR THE ENEMY. 395 

the purpose of ^ainino- iiiformatioii as to the pro- 
posed iiiov(Miieiits of Jiritish luerehaiit ships Cap- 
tain Green boarded her. It liappened that the craft 
had jnst left the port, and her master informed the 
Americans tliat tliere Aven^ eii;iit En_i;lisli vessels in 
the harbor, some of tliem ready to sail. 

This was the news Captain Green had been long- 
ing foi', and he determin(Ml to li<>ver off the port until 
souH^ of the slii])s sailed. At six o"clo<d<; that even- 
ing he had approaidied suthciently near l*ernani- 
buco to distinguish the shipping. Two days later, 
or at o.:')!) p. M., Sunday, r\d)ruary l!)th, his })atience 
was rewarded by a sail a]ti>earing to the north. 
Gra<lnally drawing uj) on her during the night, he, 
at nine o\d()(d<. on the following morning, boarded 
the brig Jor( 11 rr<iiici.sc(t, sailing under Spanish colors 
from rernambuco to London, but laden with a cargo 
of tea, coH'ee, sugar, and cinnamon consigned to 
British mer(diants. l"'rom her invoices and some 
letters found aboar<l, Captain Green was satisfied 
that the Spanish Hag had been used mer(dy as a 
cover, and tliat the craft and Ikm' cargo were in truth 
English ])ro]>erty. Accordingly he seiz(Ml her as a 
]trize and ]»laced XathaiU(d Andier and some (►f his 
men aboard, with ordcM-s to make for the United 
Slates. 

Scarcely had the last s]»eck of tlu- Joiiii i'rdiicisco 
faded fi-(»m the horizon when tlu^ ]>eo])l(' in th(^ ]»i'i- 
vateer were (dieered by the sight of another sail, this 
one to the south, standing northward. ()bs<'rving 
that she was coming directly ui>on the privateer, 
('ai)tain (Jreen allowed her to a])]>roach, and at (>.oO 
r. M., I'ebruary 21st, he boarded Ihm'. She was found 
to be the British ship Aclirc Jane, of Liverpool, from 
Kio Janeiro bound for .Maranham. She had on 
boai'd seven bags of specie, containing fourteen 
thousand milled i-ees, \\iii( ji were valued at about 
seventeen thousand live hundred dollai-s. .V ])T'ize 
ci'ew was ])laced aboard, with orders to keei) near 



;30(; (BRUISES OF THE GRAND TURK. 1815. 

the (innid 'I'lirk durinii- the iii^iiht. At daylight on 
tlie followiiii; inoriiiiii; Captain (Ireen made a more 
thorouiili search of his prize, but finding nothing- 
else of much valne, he transferred the specie to his 
vessel and scuttled the merchantman. 

From this time nntil March 10th the Grand Turk 
crnised in this vicinity, occasioning inncli damage 
to the (Miemy's commerce. She stayed so long, how- 
ever, that the English had time to collect several 
war ships, which were i)romptly sent out to captnre 
the bold jtrivateersman. Captain Green was fully 
aliv(^ to the growing danger of his position, and 
when at daylight, I'riday, ^larch lOth, the man at 
the masthead re])orted a sail in the eastern quarter, 
he ])romptly called all hands and sent them to 
(piarters. 

Thinking that the stranger might be a merchant- 
man, Ca])tain (Jreen cantionsly ran down to her, but 
soon afterwar<l lu^ discovered another sail, this one 
IxMiig on tlie weather bow. This did not (h^ter the 
(Iniiid I'lD-l- from continuing her ap})roach to the 
first strangi'i', and she was fast drawing near to her, 
when, at (».^>() A. ?ii., she ])assed very mnir the second 
stranger. Ca]»tain (Jre<Mi stop]ied only long enough 
to be satisfied that she was a Portuguese schooner. 
At sev(Mi o'(dock a third stranger was made out from 
the (h'diid 7'///7.'.s- mastliead three }>oints off the lee 
boAV. By this time tlu^ chase was seen to be a full- 
rigged shi]), a fact that made Captain Cii-een more 
cautious in a]>])roaching, but did not ])revent him 
from continuing the chase. 

By 8 A. :m. the third strangei- was seen to be a 
large, full-rigged shi]> also, standing by tin' wind to 
the northwest. With increasing anxiety Captain 
Creen continued the (diase after th(^ first stranger 
and gradually di-ew u]» on her, but at t(^n o'chxdv, 
when he had reached a i»osition three (juarters of a 
mile to Avindward, he became satisfied that the (diase 
was a frigate end(^avoring to decoy the privateer 



1815. 



A HARD CHASE. 



39: 



under her j>uiis. Caj^tain (Jreeii was not to be 
canglit by such a simple trick as tliat, and in an 
instant the (imiul Turk taclced and niadt^ all sail to 
escape. With (Mpial celerity the British frigate — 
for sn(di she proyed to be — ta(dced also and ^yas 
s])readini>' eyery sail that wonld dra\y. 

It did not take the privatcMM* lonji' to demonstrate 
her sujxn-ior sailing (jnalities, and in less than an 
honr she had so increased her lead on the (Miemy 
as to relieye ('ai>tain (JreiMi of all fear of <'a]>tnre; 
therenpon he ran nj) the American t\n<^ and tired a 
shot in defiance. Bnt at this jnnctnre the wind, 
most nnfortnnatidy for the pi-iyateer, suddenly 
hauled around to the west, whi(di Ayas yery favor- 
able for the fri«>ate, and in a short time enabled her 
to approach dan<;eronsly near. At 11.30 a. m., tind- 
in<;- that the Enniishman Avas within j^iunslKtt and 
was slowly iiettini;' alon|Li,si(h', ('ajttain (Jreen i^ot 
out his sweeps. By uruinj^- his men to their utmost 
exertion h(^ made considerable pro<»ress, notwith- 
standin^ii' the fact that, thou<ih it was calm where 
the Grand Turlc Avas, there was a ( hoi)j>y Innid sea. 

Obseryini;- that the American Avas slipjunii' from 
his «>rasp, the Enjilishman bejiian tirinii- with his 
chase ii;nns, and manninj:,' all his boats, sent them 
ahead to toAy. I'our different times tlie fri;iiate at- 
tem])ted to tack, but without success. In the ho])e 
of dama<;ing' tlu^ enemy's rijii-nin^-, (''ai)tain (h-een 
o})ened on the frigate Ayith his lonii' guns and again 
hoisted his colors. About this time a shi]i Ayas <lis- 
coyered to leeAyard Avhicdi also proyed to be a Brit- 
ish frigate, and joined in the jtursnit of the ])riva- 
teer. At noon ('a])tain (Ireen SAvept his brig round 
Avith her head northward, and liaA'ing a more fayor 
able sea, managed to increas<' his lead on the enemy 

In this mannei' the (base Ayas kept \\\) all that 
night, and the folloAying day, ]Mar(di 11th, the Ameri- 
cans Avere making every exertion at theii* swee])s, 
Avhile the B>ritish Avcrc (M|ually dilig(Mit in eiideav- 



398 CRUISES OF THE GRAND TURK. 1815. 

orinii,' to tow their sliii)S within <^inishol. Tlic 
weather all this time was extremely wai-m and 
sultry, which made it especially tryiiij^' on the Ameri- 
can crew. The British, having a larger complement 
of men, were enabled to form relief crews. At dusk, 
Satnrday, jNIarch 11th, the enemy made a great 
effort to get within range, but th<' vigilant Ameri- 
cans were e<inal to the emergency, and by putting 
forth renewed eff'orts managed to hold their own. 

When Sunday, ]March 12th, dawned, ('aptain 
(riven was nuicdi relieved to find that the enemy Avas 
out of sight; but at \.'M) v. m. the two frigates, fa- 
vored by a biveze that did not rea<di the (innul Tiifk, 
hove in sight again olf the lee bow and gradually 
drew u]) on the ( liase. I>y five o\dock tlu^ wind had 
di(Ml out and the AnuM-icans again took to tluur 
swe(^ps. During th<' night, by ceascdess ai)idica- 
tion of tli(^ swee]»s, the privateer gained so nundi as 
to be out of sight of her ])ursuers when day broke. 
At two o\do( k on ^fonday afternoon, not having seen 
anything of the enemy for some time, Captain (Ji'eeii 
emi»loyed all hands in getting down the fore-top- 
mast, whi( h had b(MMi strained in the (diase, and 
replacing it with a new one. While busy at this 
task a sail was d(^scried to the northwest, and at 
four o'( lo<dc another was observed standing for the 
privateer. By half ])ast five ('a]dain (Jreeii had his 
new fore-topmast and to])gallant mast in place, 
rigged and yards abd't. He then made sail for the 
second strangei', and at seven o% lock boarded her. 
Sh(^ proved to be a Portuguese brig from Bahia bound 
for La (irand(% with a cargo of salt. Captain Green 
t<»ok this oi)])ortunity of ])lacing live British prison- 
ers, under i>arole, in this vessel, and, discdiarging ten 
Spaniards, he ])laced th(un aboard the brig with the 
necessary su]>])ly of provisions and resumed liis 
course. 

Aft(M* this narrow escape the (Iniiid TiirJ: saw 
nothing more of the Britisli frigates until five days 



1815. «'A SQUARE YARDARM FIGHT." 399 

later, wIhmi licr intrepid ('(Hiiinaiulor, iiiirnfflcHl b}^ 
the dan<;('r he had escaped, persisted in remaining 
in these waters. At t\v<> o'clock on the afternoon of 
vSatni'dav, >Iai'(h ISth, Captain (Jreen overhauled 
and s])oke a Portugnese brig from Africa b(mnd for 
Kio Janeiro Avith a cargo of slaves. At this moment 
another sail to the northwest was reported from 
the masthead, and away went the privateer in ehase 
of it. As the American gradnally overhauled the 
stranger it became more and more evident that she 
was a shi}) of force, and at half past four o'clocdv she 
hoisted English colors and began tii-ing her stern 
guns. Xo attention was paid to this bv the Ameri- 
cans, who kej)t silently an<l ]>e]'sistently in the wake 
(»f th<' chase, contidiMit in their abilitv to overtake 
her. 

I'orty minntes later the stranger took in her 
steering sails, gav(^ a bi'oad yaw, and tired a broad- 
side. r])on this invitation to a square yardarm tight 
the (Irdiid I'lirl: ])romptly followed the maneuver 
and o]>ened with her i»ort battery, and maintained 
such a heavy tii-e that in ten minntes the English- 
man struck. On taking jxtssession, the Ann^-icans 
found her to be the ]>ritish brig Aconi, from Liver- 
pool, bound for Kio Janeiro. The jtrize carried four- 
teen 12-])ounders, and had a cargo of drygoods. No 
time was lost in getting the cargo aboard the priva- 
teer, for ('ai)tain (JreiMi well knew that ]>ritish 
cruisers were swarming in this ])art of the ocean. 
Tn twenty minutes the first boat load of goods was 
brought aboai'd the drdiid Tiii-l\ All night long the 
crew was ke])t busy transferring the merchandise, 
but at daylight Sunday moi-ning the w(n*k was in- 
terrupted by the a]»])earanc(» of two fi'igates and a 
war bi'ig in full <hase of the privateer, and on her 
lee beam. These frigates ])roved to b(^ the same 
that had given the (iniiul Turk smdi a liar<l and \Hn'- 
sistent chase the week before. Taking a "very full 
boat load of goods on board," ('a])taiu Green placed 



J^OO CRUISES OP THE GRAND TURK. 1815. 

Joseph Pliippeu and eleven men aboard the Acorn, 
with orders to make for the United States, and then 
gave attention to his own safety. As the wind was 
fair, he soon fonnd that he w\as drawing away from 
the frigates, and by nightfall he had run them ont 
of sight. 

Having had a tidc^i-ably snccossfnl crnise of 
nearly thr(H^ mouths, and boliining that the treaty of 
l)ea('<^, signed at Ghent, would be ratified. Captain 
Green dcriihHl to return home. An()th(n- reason for 
terminating his cruiso was the fact thai the (haiul 
TiirV.s (•()i)i»er and rigging were very much out of 
repair and she was running sliort of water. 

While homeward bound Captain (ireen, at four 
o'ckxdv in the morning of ^larcdi 29th, discovered a 
sail to windward, and, believing that he might take 
another prize, tacked in pursuit. At half past eight 
he came up with the stranger, whi(di proved to 
be a Portuguese ship fi-om Africa for ^laranham, 
with nearly tive hundred slaves aboard. Captain 
Green took this opportunity of releasing on parole 
eleven British ])risoners who wer<^ ])laced aboard 
the Portuguese. 

Pesuming her course northward, the (Inntd Tiirl-, 
on A])ril Kith, boarded the American stdioouer 
(Umicl, from Alexandria for Parbadoes, with a cargo 
of flour, and learned that peace between the United 
States and England had been comduded. Captain 
(ireen notes that this announcement " produced the 
greatest rejoicing throughout the shi])'s company." 
On Saturday, Ai)ril 21)tii, the (iniiul TiirJc drop])ed 
anchor in Salem harbor, (deared d(Md<s, and salutiMl 
the town, thus completing a cruise of one hundred 
and eighteiMi days. This ]>rivateer captured, in the 
coui-se of the war, three ships, twelve brigs, seven 
sidiooners, and eight sloo])s. On ^iay 80, 1S15, the 
(Snuid Tiirlx was sold to AVilliam Gray, of Salem, and 
for some time was employed as a mendiantman. 



CHAPTER XY. 

ESCAPIO OF THE IDA. 

Ox the last day of ^larcli, 1814, four Americau 
captains in tlie [)rivateei* service* met at Hotel des 
Ambassadeurs in the important ^seaport town of La 
Kochelle. They were Jeremiah Mantor, of the Bos- 
ton privateer Id<r, David ■Maffitt, of the Ixafflcsiidh; 
from Philadelphia; (leorge Coggeshall, of the Durid 
roiiir, from New York; and ■Mr. Brown, of the Dccit- 
fiii; from Portsmouth. Thus were four of the prin- 
cipal seaport cities of the United States represented 
at this meetini;. All of these commanders had their 
sliii)s in La Kochelle exceptinji" Coogeshall, who 
had come to this place overland looking' for means 
of transportation home for some valuable carii'o. 
There was also in l^a Tiochelle an American mer- 
chant briji" belonuinii to New York, which had been 
laid up there from the bej^innini; of tln^ war. At 
this time the jxditical situation of I''ran(M\ and of 
Euroi)e too, was one of i;r(nit uncertainty and sus- 
])ense. The alli<'d armies were (dose u])on Paris, if 
not actually within the city, but as yet the exact 
state of affairs was not known in La Poclndle. Not 
the sliiihtest information on the subject could be 
obtained. All communication between Paris an<l 
lia lvo(h(dle had been sto])])ed some time before, 
not a diliiicnce beinjii- allowed to run on the road 
betxveen the two ])oints. Everybody knew that the 
allied armies were in the neip,hborliood of l*aris, but 
no one dared to speak on the subject. 

401 



402 ESCAPE OF THE IDA. 1814. 

This stat(^ of anxiety and suspense was rendered 
doiibly critical to tiie American officers by the fact 
that a powerful British blockadinti' squadron, com- 
manded by Lord Keith in the ship of line Qucf)} Char- 
lotte, consistinji" of five ships of the line, several frig- 
ates, and a number of war brii;s and S(diooners, com- 
pletely blocked the enjfrance of the harbor, making 
it extremely difficult, if not foolhardy, for any of 
the four American vessels in that port to attempt to 
get to sea. On the other hand, if these vessels re- 
maiiKHl in port, their commanders had no assurance 
whatever that British influence — which in case 
Paris fell would b(^ all-powerful in the new (lovern- 
ment to be establislie<l — wonld not bring about the 
confiscation of their ships and cargoes. In short, 
"the four Americans, although having entered a 
friendly i)ort, suddenly found tluMiiselves in a trap 
fi'om which there seemed to b<' not the slightest 
]n'os])ect of esca])e. They were menaced both from 
the land and sea, and their meeting at lIot(d des 
Anibassadeurs was, in fact, a council of war. As 
the dang(^r of cai)ture seemed eipially imminent 
from sea and land, they were not long in deciding 
to take tlieir chances on tlu^ former as being best 
suited to th(^ salty natui*e of honorable tars. 

("'a])tain Maffitt, whose noteworthy career in the 
Atlas and l\(iltl( siidhc we have followed, had recently 
arrived from his northern cruise, and, as it had been 
one of (extraordinary success, tlu^ English were par- 
ticularly anxious to ])ut an end to the cruises of the 
niis( hief-making RdttlcsiKil-c. »Tust before entering 
this port the privateer had a desjiei'ate battle with 
the heavily armed British transport Marii, the result 
of whi(di was highly exas])erating to our cousins. 
The Marji was from Sicily, bound for England, and 
had on boaid as prisoners sixty -two Fren<di offi- 
cers, guarded by several English army officers and 
a detachment of soldiers. TIh' two- vessels met in 
the Ba.y of Biscay, aiul imuKMliately engaged in bat- 



1814. A VEXATIOUS CAPTURE— TO OUR COUSINS. ^3',,.. 

tie at close quarters, the priv'ateer, of course, talo 
ing the initiative. In twenty minutes the com- ^ 
mander of the transport and two of his seamen were - /. 
killed and three others wore wounded, upon which 
the survivors hauled down their colors and asked 
for quarter. The Americans took possession, and, 
placing a prize crew aboard, ordered her int-(j a 
French port. In the privateer only one man was 
wounded. He was a marine officer, " a handsome 
,young man belonging to one of the most respectable 
families in New York.'' His injury was in his leg. 
On reaching La Rochelle hc^ was taken to the hos- 
l)ital and was advised to have the limb taken off, and 
was warned that there was no time to be lost. He 
declined to submit to the operation, howeyer, cart^- 
lessly giving as a reason that it would ^yunl his 
dancing. He lingered a few weeks and died, his ' 
funeral being attended by all the Americans in the 
place. The Mtirii subsequently was recaptured and 
sent to England. The English officers in.the traus- 
])ort published letters in their home newspa])ers ex- 
j)loitiug the generous conduct of Caittaiu Maffitt ii*! 
giving them all their persomil property and in his ^ 
handsome treatment of all the i)risoners. 

Captain Coggeshall, whose career in tlu' David ■ 
Porhr and Leo has bcH'u detailed in the ])receding ' 
cha]»ters, had just arrivtMl in La Tvochelle overlan<l 
from rile Yen, where he had left his ship, the David 
Porter, and, after dispatching her to the TTnited 
States in charge of her first officer, turned his att(Mi- 
tion to dis])osiiig of cargoes brought from (Charles- 
ton and ])rizes taken on the way over. (''a])tains 
Brown and Mantor, of the Decatur and the Ida, had 
entered the port in quest of su]>plies, when they 
found themselves blocka<le<l. On April 2d news 
reached La Rochelh^ that Laris, on March .']()th, had 
been taken by tlu^ alli<Ml armies, and on A])ril ^^d offi- 
cial orders arrived ])roclaiming the Government of 
Louis XVI 1 1. This news si)urr(Ml the American com- 



404 ESCAPE OF THE IDA. 1814. 

mauders to actiou, and they resolved to sail their 
vessels out of the port at all hazards and make a 
bold dash for liberty. All their vessels were swift 
craft, desi<;ned especially for speed and convenience 
in crnisiuo- and eliidinji;' ships of <»reater force. The 
/(/(/ was a tine, copjx'rtMl briii,' of two hnndred and 
seventy-two tons, nionnting eii^ht lonij; l)-ponnders 
and 12-ponnders, with a complement of thirty-tive 
men. 

Early on the morning' of April Sth the three 
American privatein's — the NdttJcsiidl-c, the Ida, and 
the Dvcdtar — eaidi fnlly })repared for a race or tioht, 
tripped anchor and stood down the harbor to rnn 
the blockade if an o])p()rtnnity should offer. They 
stood down with the wind on the north side of Tile 
de Re, an island just off the mainland, hoping; to 
escape throui;h that i)assage. But unexpectedly 
they found a stron^i; Enj^lish naval force stationed 
there, and were com]H'lled to fall back, the Rattk- 
sn(il-c and Dvcdiur returninji' to their anchorages. 

The Ida, however, lay to off the east end of the 
island l(>ni'' enouiih to dischar;u;e her pilot, and then 
s(iuared away and made a bold dash down the 
south side of the island in plain sinht of the entire 
British fleet at amdior in the roads off La TJochelle. 
The Enjilish admiral apparently was taken some- 
what by surprise by the sudden change of course 
made l>y the T<hi. In fact, (''ai)tain ^Nlantor was tak- 
ing (h^speratc chances, for he was com]udl('d to pass 
within a sliort distance of the r»ritis]i fl<H't; and even 
if he ran this liantlct in safety he was obliii'ed to 
meet a lunivy war schoonei' at the end of the island. 
On the othei' hand, ('a]»tain Mantor saw that the 
chances of his capture, should he endi^avor to re- 
<>ain his anchorai^'e, were i^reat, and observing: that, 
as the tide was then hcdding the ])ondei'ous ships 
of the line at anchor, they could scarcely brino- a 
ji'un to bear on the course he proposed to take in his 
dash for liberty, he decided (m the lesaer evil of the 



1814. IN THE ENEMY'S TOILS. 405 

two. The very b(»l(ln(\ss of his decision was his main 
reliance in effeetin<>- his escape, for, as he rightly 
conjectured, the English weiv taken by snri)rise, and 
not oneof the huge ships of the line was able to 
give him a shot as he passed them. One of them 
slip}»ed her cable, however, and soon had settled 
down to a determined chase. 

Jnst as the little Ida, with the gigantic ship of 
the line tumbling after her, passed the south end 
of the island, ('ai)tain Mantor discovered a war 
schooner on liis stai-board si<le making for him frcnn 
the cover of the island. If the Ida changed her 
course she would give the huge ship of the line, al- 
ready uncomfortably close in her wake, a chance 
to gain a (piarter of a mile or more. This was a 
period of the chase when even such a short distance 
might turn the balance. On the other hand, if the 
I(J(i held on her ])resent course she would be coin- 
p(dled to pass within musket shot of the scdiooner, 
so that the latter, in all ])robability, w<nild shoot 
away some of tlu^ pi-ivateer's spars, and so c]-ip])le 
her rigging thai she would fall an easy prey. Cap- 
tain Mantoi' delermiiied to continue on the coui*se he 
was then holding. In a few minut«»s he was within 
musket shot of the schooner, which let go all the 
guns she could bi'ing to beai', carrying awa^^ the 
/(Id's studding-siiil boom, mainstay, and some run- 
ning rigging. This damage was anticipated, and the 
Americans had made every i»reparation for it, so 
that in an incredibly short time they had everything 
tight again and the studding sail reset. 

At this time several lueu-of-war were within gun- 
shot of the Ida, and were ])eppering away at her with 
all their chase guns. The Americans were too busy, 
however, looking out for their sails, rigging, and 
S])ars to i)ay any attention to tln^se little pleasant- 
ries, and ke])t on their course in watchful silence. 
Soon aft(M' passing the schooner Captain ]\[antor dis- 
covered another war shij) bearing down on his star- 



4(H) ESCAPE OF THE IDA. 1814. 

board side, and he nerved himself for anotlier broad- 
si(k'. He now determined to pnt up his helm and 
bring all his pnrsners astern, as that was the only 
course left to him. This was qnickly done, and the 
Ida crosscMl the bow of the last ship so near that the 
Americans could distinctly hear her seamen halloo. 
This ship, as soon as she could i!,et her broadside to 
bear, \v\ _u;<) lier comi)liments at the Ida^ but for- 
tunately most of the shot went too hi<;h. One 32- 
pound sliot passed alon.ii" the privateer's deck fore 
an<l aft, and lodged in the stern. Another carried 
away the an(di(a' as it hung uiuhn' her bow ready to 
let go, and severcnl the (duiin. Had not most of the 
cr(nv of the hUi Xn^ew in her hold at that time, heav- 
ing out ballast, many of them would have been 
killed or wounded. 

liy lightening his vessid and increasing her speed 
in every possible way, Captain Mantor gradually 
drew out of gunshot, although by nightfall as many 
as ten British war shi])S were in full (diase. The 
stubbornness of the cdiase is shown by the fact that 
when the English lost trace of the I(hi in the night 
they si)rea(l out th(4r forces so that some of their 
shi])S were sure to be in sight of the audacious pri- 
vateer on the following morning. How well they 
made their calculations was shown at daylight, for 
as so<»n as the lookout w^as able to distinguish any- 
thing at a distance from the ship he saw two Brit- 
ish frigates directly ahead. Captain jNIantor (pii< kly 
haule<l up on tli<^ wind to avoid them. In doing this 
h(^ narrowly esca]>ed capsizing his own vessel, for 
six of the hUrs eight long guns had been thrown 
overboard in the (diase, and she had been relieved of 
so mu<di ballast as to make carrying a press of sail 
hazardous. 

As soon as the two frigates sighted the ]>rivateer 
they W(n*e after her, and then began anotluM' long 
(duise. All that moridng and aftern<^on tlu^ three 
vess(ds strained and bow<Ml under (douds of canvas. 



1814. A BINNACLES SHUTTER FALLS. 407 

each (loiiiLi licr uliiiost to increase speed. As uiglit 
aii'aiii ai»|>i*<>acli(Ml it was simmi that the American 
had incrcvised his h^ad some fonr or five miles, bnt 
still he was danii'eronsly near the enemy, who by 
ai^ain divi<lini; theii' f(>rces in the nij^lit stoo<l a toler- 
ably fair (diance of siuhtini; the chase at the br«^ak 
of day. 

Abonl nine o'clock that niiihl the Ida had suc- 
ceed(Ml in concealing herself from her ])nrsners. 
Ever}' lin'ht in Ihm* had been extin<i,nislied sav(^ those 
absolntely n(M-essary for navi^atinii the ship, and 
these were carefully shielded so as not to be visible 
to the enemy. IIo]»es were beini;' entertained by all 
on boai-d that they wonld actually make j^ood their 
escape from La Ko( h(dl(\ when, ni(»st unfortuiiat<dy, 
the shutter (d' the binnacle f(dl, revealini;' the li_i;lit 
to the Eni>lishmen. At this instant one (d' the frig- 
ates was astern (d' the ])rivate(M' and another was on 
her lee (piarter, and the < hances were that had they 
not seen the hhi's binnacde li^iit their coni-ses wonld 
have diverged so nnudi durim;- the ni^ht that by 
morninii t Ik^ Americans would have been out of 
sijiht. As soon as the En^lishuK^n saw the lii^ht 
they signaled ea( h other and < han^t^d their courses 
so as to surrctund the ]>rivateer. As (juiiddy as pos- 
sible ('a])tain Mantor ha<l the shutter replaced, and 
a^ain, in t(dal darkness, the three vessids bowled 
alonu over the waves under the heaviest i)ress of 
sail. At daylight, A]>ril Kith, (''a])tain Mantor saw 
tiie two frii;ates, hull do\\n, and in the course of the 
day he ran them out (d' si_ii,ht, arriving- safely at 
r>(»sioii after a i»assau(' of twenty-six days. 

Soon after the Ida made her marv(dous escai>e 
from the harbor of La Koc Indle the Dccafiir and the 
R<illl(sii(il-c seized opjxn-tunities for licdtinij,' to sea. 
The former was ca]dured Se]d<Muber .'>, 1S14, by the 
I>i-itish s(piadi'on, and the IxhIIUsikiI-c was taken by 
the frii.iate Ui/pcrioH, June 3, 1814. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

PiaVATIOEKS OF SALEM. 

That >>al(Mii lioMs a iiiiiiiiic i)lace in American 
ship lore ninst be apparent even to tlie casual ob- 
server. Thomas Wentworth Higjiinsou, writing of 
the early history of that venerable seaport, sa^^s: 
" Long before the IJevohition a plan had been vague- 
ly sketched out by which Salem was to obtain some- 
thing of that sliare in the India trade whicdi later 
events brought to her. In an old letter book con- 
taining part of the correspondence that passed in 
1()(>9 betwcHMi Lieutenant-('ol(ni(d John Iligginsou, of 
Salem, and his brother Nathaniel — a graduate of 
HarvariJ Colh^ge and (Jovcrnor of the English col- 
ony of Madras — the ]iom(^-kce])ing brother suggests 
tjiat the ex-(ioverii(»r should make the Massachu- 
setts colony llie scat of an Oriental comnun'ce by 
way of Jjon<lon, and thus cnumei-ates the resources 
of such a trathc: ' All sorts of calicoes', aligers, rem- 
walls, jnusliu, silks for clothing and linings; all sorts 
of drugs |>ro])<M' for the apothecaries, and all sorts 
of spice,! are vendible with us, and th(^ ]>rices of them 
altin- mucji according as they wei'<^ ph^ity or scarce. 
In the late Avar tinu' all East India goods were ex- 
tremely dear. ^luslins of the best sort, plain, 
striped, and flowered, were sold for £10 per piece, 
and some more. Pepper, 3.v. per pound; nuts [nut- 
megs] /l0.s-.^p(M- pound; cloves, 20.s*.; mace, 30.s; but 
now ar<^ abiited about a (juarter part in value. Some 
of th(^ ( hiua wai-e, toys, and laccpier ware will sell 

408 



1812-1815. IMPORTANCE OF SALEM. 409 

well, but no great quantity. As for ambergris, we 
often have it from the West Indies, and it is sold 
for about 3 per ounce. For musk, pearls, and dia- 
monds, I believe some of them may sell well, but I 
understand not their value.' 

" Thus early, it seems, was the taste for Chinese 
and Japanese goods — germ of future iestheticism — 
implanted in the American colonies; but when it 
comes to pearls and diamonds, the quiet Salem 
burgher, descendant of three generations of devout 
clero'vmen, ^ understands not their value.' Yet he 
believes that some of them will sell well, even in 
1(>(>9!" 

During the struggle for American indei)endence 
Salem sent out one hundred and tifty-eight priva- 
teers, carrying about two thousand guns which took 
in all four hundred and forty-five prizes — more than 
half the prizes made by our (Mitire maritime forces 
in this war — only fifty-four of the privatet'rs b(^ing 
lost by ca]>tui'e or shi])wi'eck. In short, when we 
remember that the important seaports of Rtj>ston, 
Xewi»ort, New York, IMiilad(d})liia, Charleston, and 
Savannah were successively in the hands of the 
enemy during that struggle, it would b(^ difticult to 
undei'stand how the vast maritime operations of the 
rebelling colonists could have been effectively car- 
ried on had it not been for the open port of Salem. 

In the course of the War of 1S12 ^alemi sent 
foi'ty privat(M'rs to sea. A number of these have 
been noticed in otluM* clia])ters as being .W(dl 
worthy of extended notice, but many of the others 
rendered services of value, notwithstanding the fact 
that usually they were small vessels mounting one 
to five guns and mamuMl by fewer than forty men. 
Of this class the 1-gun schooner IhicJ:sJ:iii, Captain 
I. Bray, may be taken as an example. In one cruise 
jihe took four well-laden schooners, retook a Kehne- 
buidv brig, and recai)tured tin' American br'ig Tlcxpcr, 
whi<h liad been seized by the British frigate Muld- 



410 PRIVATEERS OP SALEiM. 1812. 

sf()H<\ Aiiioii^- the Hiick.sk ill's prizes was the schooner 
Xclsoii, laden witli (ul, fnrs, fish, etc., and a schooner 
from Halifax bound for (^nebec, laden with military 
stores and havinj;' on board as passen}i,ers (""olonel 
Pearson, of the En<'lish army, his wife and family. 
The Buckskin was captnred early in the war. 

More successfnl than the liiickskiii was the ship 
./oh II, ('ai>tain J. Crowninshield. This handsome ves- 
sel was lunivily arnnMl and manned, carryinjj^ six- 
teen ^nns and a comi)lenient of one hnndred and 
sixty men, whi(di made her one of tlie most formi- 
dable privateers afloat at the be^inninii of the war. 
After a short cruise of abont three weeks, in Jnly, 
1812, the John returned to port, liavinj;- captured 
eleven v<^ssels, of which thi'ee were destroyed and 
one was I'ecaptured. Those that arrived in port 
were the briji,' f'r/Tx; tli<^ s<dioon<M' ( iiioii, from Ja- 
maica for (Quebec, with one hundred and forty-six 
pun(dHM)ns of rum (the vess(d and cari^'o beinj;' esti- 
mated to be wortli thirty thousand dollars); the cop- 
pered briii' I'Uiziihctli, of three hundred tons, from 
(xibraltar for (^U(4m'c, in ballast, carrying' four j2,uns 
and twelve m(^n; the shi]> Apollo, of four hundred 
tons and mounting' eii:,ht 18-i)ounders; and a 
scdiooner from Jamaica with one liumli-ed and sixty 
puncheons of rum. Three brijis, lad(Mi with lumber, 
wove cai)tured, but as they were inconvenient to 
handle they were released. Afterward the John 
ca]»tur(Ml the valuable brli:: Ihnrii, from Liverpool 
for Halifax, laden with crates, salt, ami coal; the 
ship 'fane, of Port (Jlasiiow; th<' brijjj Neptune, a iieAV, 
liyht briii from (libraltar bound for Halifax; the 
s<diooner lilonde, from Dominica for v^t. John's; and 
a schooner from Jamaica with one hundred and 
sixty ])uncheons of rum aboard. All of these ])rizes 
reached Salem exceptinjj,' the new bi-i^' from (Gibral- 
tar, whi( li was sent into IJoston. The Joint shared 
the fate of the liitckskiii, being captured by the enemy 
earlv in the war. 



1812-1814. CAREERS OP TTIE ACTIVE AND ALFRED. 4U 

The career of the Ac/in, Captain rattersoii, was 
short, that vessel beiiij;' captured July 10, 1812, off 
('a])e Sable, by the British 80-i;uu frij^-ate f^parian, 
('ai>taiu lirenton. The Actirr was a schooner carry- 
ing- only two guns and a complement of twenty men. 
Two days later the S/Hiiimi also captured tlie priva- 
teer sloo]) .Ic/rf .v.v, ('a])tain (1. Lnmsib'u, of New 
Haven. The sloo]> carried four gnus and fifty-three 
nien. She had been in coniniission only seven days. 

The Alfred, ('a]»tain Williams, was a brig of 
about the same force as the JoJiii, mounting sixteen 
guns and having a coin])lement of one hundred and 
thii'ly men. She sailed fi-om Salem on a cruise Au- 
gust 1(», 1S12, and one of her tirst })rizes was the 
brig n'nniioiKl, of two hundred and twenty tons and 
twelve nuns, with a full car^o of cotton and loa- 
wood and two thousand five hundred dollars in gold. 
Another valuable prize was the brig (icort/c, of two 
linndred and seventy tons, laden with sugar and 
cotton. ]^]ach of these vesscds was from lirazil, and 
they were valued at one hnndi-ed and twenty thou- 
sand dollars. The brig l\rc'iUii and the Ciirfcir also 
were taken by the Alfred; the former, laden with fish, 
from St. John's bound for Jiermuda, was luirned at 
sea, and the latter, from Nova Scotia for St. Lucia, 
with a cargo of tish and oil, was sent into ^Marble- 
head. The D'hiiikhhI and the ileonje were sent into 
Salem. On iM'bruary 2:{, ISU, the Alfred, when 
three nionlhs out on her last cruise, was captured 
by the I^nglish sloo]) of wai' l\ju rrh r and the frigate 
d uinni. 

'V\\{' llinislur and the TerrUde seem to have been 
most formidable in their names. The former, com- 
manded by Captain IJ. Evans, took the brig Tor Ahhei/, 
laden with dry fish, whi(di was siMit into Cape Ann, 
while the latter, scarcely more than an open boat, 
ca]>tni'e<l a scdiooner bubMi with a few hogsheads of 
rnm (which was sent into Eastport), two small ves- 
S(ds (which were sent into Salem), and the S(diooner 



412 rmVATEERS OF SALEM. 1812-1815. 

Iluymoiuj, of Yarinonth, Nova Scotia, which also was 
brought safely into port. The Tliraslur also cap- 
tured the 350-tou ship BrUainiUt, mounting six guns, 
and sent her into port. 

One of the smallest of Salem's privateers was 
the 'lolm (iikJ dcorf/c, carrying only one 12-pounder 
and tw<> o-pounders, with a comi)lenieiit of thirty- 
eight all told. This little craft made several valu- 
able captures, among them being the ship Ned, of 
Glasgow, carrying ten D-pc Minders — sufficient, had 
they been fully manned ami handled, to have blown 
the puny JoJiii (in<J (Uonjc out of water — and a crew 
of sixteen men. Sln^ was laden with tiinb(M*, and 
surrendered after a sharj) tight. She was sent into 
Salem. 

The privateer schooner IxcniH/c, Captain J. Sin- 
(dair, sent into Portland the British schooners Robin 
and Ncphnic into ('a])e Ann, the latter being laden 
with tish, salt, and oil. Tln^ JicrciKjc also captured 
the Itrig /idccJiHs, of Port (Hasgow, and sent her into 
Salem. In (Uideavoring to take another s( hooner 
the UcroKjc drovc^ her ashore on the coast of Nova 
Scotia and burned her. Not long after this the 7iV- 
rciKjc was ca])tui-ed by the enemy. 

The (iroirJvr, Caittain N. Lindsey, before she was 
captured by the English, was a fairly successful 
craft. She sent into New London the ship AraJxJIa, 
from r]ngland Ixnind for the West Indies. The 
Aidhrlld was of five hundred tons, cop])ered, mounted 
eight guns, and in every ]'es]M'ct was a first-class ves- 
sel. She was laden with plantation ut(Misils. The 
(ivoirlcr also took a brig, whi(di was released after 
every article of value had been taken out of her. 
Among the privateer's other prizes were the 
S(diO()ner Prince of W'tiUs and the brig Aim. The 
s(diooner was released, after a few pipes of ^Madeira 
wine had be(m taken out of lu^r, as being of more 
trouble than she was worth, but the brig was sent 
into IMarblehead. She mounted ten guns, and w^as 



1813. LOSSES BY SHIPWRECK. 41 p, 

bound for New Providence from Liverpool with a 
cargo of drvii'oods and crates which was valued at 
one huiidr(Ml thousand dollars. On July 7, 1813, the 
(innrlvr was captured by the Britisli 18-gun sloop of 
war Khvlni off St. Peters, after a chase of six hours, 

The Wnxp, Captain E. Ewin<;- (or Ervin), also was 
a Salem privateer that was (•ai)tured by an En<;lish 
cruiser, but not until she intiicted some injury on the 
enemy's commerce. She was a sloop niountinij;' only 
two j^uns. Aft(n' sendiui;' a scli(M>ner into Machias 
she was chased July 31 (by another account June 9), 
1813, by the British man-of-war Brvani, mounting 
ten guns. Kealizing the heljtlessness of giving 
battle to the cruisei*, Captain Ewing made every 
eft'ort to escape. The Brvani gave (diase, and for nine 
hours k(']»t the Wasj) in sight and gained on her. 
When in easy gunshot the English oi)ened a heavy 
hre, whiidi the Americans returned as well as they 
could for forty minutes, when they surrendered. 
The Pritish lieutenant commanding the Uraon 
treated his prisoners with exce])ti<»nal court(^sy. 

Among tlic ]>rivateers of Salem lost by shii)wreck 
were the (IdHiiiipjKr and the Jfdii. The former. Cap- 
tain T. W'ldlman, captured a schooner, whi(di was 
ndcascd on tlu' i)aymeut of ransom. On May 2, 
1813, the (IdUiiiipjxr was (diascd ashore by the Eng- 
lish 2()-gun sloop of war Ndfllcr and destroycMl. The 
J>drl, Cai»tain William Davis, was little more than 
an (►i)en boat, and was cast away early in the strug- 
gle. She had captured the snow Friends, a vessel of 
two hundred and ninety tons, mounting six guns, and 
a brig laden with rum. The Dint also had taken the 
brigs Coiiconl, Hope, and Dldiid. 

The privateer Alr.rdiiihr, Cai)tain l>enjamin 
Crowninshield, was a S])lendid 18-gun ship with a 
c()m])lenH>nt of one hundred and twenty men. She 
was (diased ashore ^lay 19, 1813, by the Rattler and 
Bream. Previously she had taken several prizes, one 
of them the hv'wx Edirard, mounting eight guns, from 



4U PRIVATEERS OP SALEM. 181H. 

lirnzil for LoikIoii, with one huiKlivd and ('i<;lit.v 
bales of cotton. This ])rize was sent into Salem. 
The Alc.idndcr also seized a brio- of sixteen gnus, 
laden with drjgoods and gunpowder, and a schooner, 
the latter being released after the valnable portions 
of her cargo had been taken ont. ^Mien (diased by 
the h'dllhr and /h-cam, the Mcntmhr was so hard 
pressed that only twenty of her crew were able to 
get ashore; most of her other men, however, had 
been detailed to man the seven i)rizes the privateer 
had taken, so that the number of prisoners was not 
so large as might have becMi sui)i)Osed. The Alvx- 
nii(hi- had over one hundred prisonc^rs, who were re- 
<-ai)tured. The English managed to float the priva- 
teer olT and carried Inn* into Halifax. 

The career of one of the Ah;i-(iii(]('r\s' prizes is espe- 
cially note^^■orthy. This was the i^rench i)rivateer 
Jiiriiicihlc NdpolcDii, a vessel mounting sixteen guns. 
She had been taken from the I'^rencdi by a British 
sloo]) of war. The Alcnnidci- fell in with the Jiiriiicihlc 
X<i}i<)h(iii, undei' her new mast(M'S, in the English 
Channel, and ca]»tured her after a hard struggh' and 
sent her into ('a])e Ann. On tlie night of .Afay 1(>, 
1813, while lying at her anchorage in this |)lace, the 
TiiriiiciJiJc Xdpolcdii was r(^-recai)t(ired by the boats 
of the ]>ri(ish fi-igat(^s SJuniiinii and Tciicilos^ which 
had gallantly pulhMl into the ]M)rt, under cover (tf 
niglit, and attacked her. The vess(d was anchored 
too far from the fort to r(M-eiv(» any assistance from 
the garrison, so the liritisli succeed<Ml in carrying 
her out. ]>ut before the English masters couhl carry 
this unlucky shi]» to a ])lace of safety she was caj)- 
tured by the AnuM-ican ])rivateer Ton in/ Tca.zcr, and 
arrived at Portland about June 1st. After retit- 
ting at this ]>lace, the / iiriiicililc Xd/iolcoii ])ut to sea 
for a ci'uise, under Captain 1*. Desterbecho, with 
sixteen guns and sixty men. On August KJ, 1S14, the 
misnanuMl / iiriiiciJiJc Xtiiiolroii was ca])tured for the 
fifth tinu' bv the British crnisei- Arini(h\ after having 



1812-1815. THE NANCY AND FROLIC. 415 

thrown ovtM'board ten <»f licr ^iins in the loii^- chase 
that pi'CMMMh'd tlio capture. 

The Sah'in privateer Xdiici/, Captain K. Smart, 
took the briji' Rcsoliilioii, laden with flonr, and sent 
her into l*orthind, whil(^ the Thiiotlti/ richriin/, al- 
tlioiij'li titted out for the avowed i>nr]M>se of seizing- 
vessels evadiiiii" the Non-ini])ortatioii Law, made sev- 
eral valuable captures. She was a three-masted V(^s- 
sel and w(dl ai)])ointed. She took the hJliza Aim and 
s(»nt hei' into East]M)rt. The liritish sloo]) of war 
Martin api)eared of that place soon afterward and 
threatened to lay the town in ashes if the hJlizti Ann 
were not given up. The i)eoide of the ])lace were not 
so easily frightened, and, retui'iiing a defiant answer, 
(hey awaited the promised attaidv. The Martin soon 
o])ened a fe(4)le, ill-diriM-tcHl tire, whi( h the Ameri- 
cans returned with s])irit, and after a few shots in- 
duced the sloop of war to with<lraw. The 'riniotlii/ 
I*ic1x'crin<i also cai»tur(Ml the brig l)<trt and sent her 
into Salem. 

Ill no other privateer from Salem was tlu^ com- 
mand to ''sink and destroy" so w<dl carriiMl out as 
in the /Vo/Zr, Captain Odiorne. Nearly all of tin' 
elcNcn ]»rizes taken by this fortunate V(^ss(d W(n'(^ 
burned at sea. Some of them were the shi]) I'cprisal, 
from Scotland Vxuiiid for tlu^ l>ay of Chaleur; the 
brig Friends, of IJristol (England), for Pictou; the 
brig l>(tsri/; the galliot (liitttv Jloff'nniKi, of Ports- 
mouth (lOngland); the brig Jauf iionhni, of London, 
carrying eight guns and twenty men; and the 
S( hooner iUicoura^icnicnt, from Antigua for Nova 
Scotia, liaxing on board twenty hogsheads of sugar, 
twenty hogshead of nudasses, and five of rum. All 
of these vesscds were destroyed after their ofticers 
and ci-ews and the most valuable portions of tlieii* 
cargoes had been transferred to the privateer. In 
this way the i'rotic soon became dangerously 
crowded with i)risoners, and as a means of getting 
rid of thiMii they were placed in one of the i^rizes, 



416 PRIVATEERS OP SALEM. 1812-1815. 

the schooner Jlioifcr, and sent to England. In the 
same way the prize schooners yi(/i1(int and Sit.saii were 
disposed of. Two of the Frolic's prizes were of such 
value that they were placed in charge of prize crews 
and sent into port. They were the ship Grotius, of 
London, which was sent into Portland, and the 
scdiooner Tnircllcr, which put into Sciuani. The 
latter had aboard one hundred and nineteen hogs- 
heads and sixty barrels of sugar, besides a quantity 
of coffee. 

Almost as lucky as the Frolic was the General 
^tark, a lugger mounting only two guns and manned 
by twelve men. One of her first prizes was a one- 
hundred-and-thirty-ton schoomn*, from St. John's to 
the West Indies, Mdiicdi Avas sent into ^Matdiias. The 
GeueraJ i^turlx also took the brig (Uts.sacl-, manned by 
twelve men, bound for Bermuda from Martinique, 
and having in her hold one hundred and thirty- 
thre(^ hogsheads, two tierces and sixty-eight bar- 
rels of sugar. When the Gcitcral ^^hirJ: made this 
capture she had only eight men aboard, the others 
being abscMit in a prize. The crew of the f "o.s-.sy/cA' was 
kept aboai'd, while three men and a b<»y were sent 
to her from the Gciicrdl t>^farJ: as a prize crew, halving 
only four ]>ersons in the ])rivateer. In this critical 
condition the two vess(ds made for port, the Go.ssack 
arriving at (lecn-getown, South Carolina, without 
mishap. The vessel and her cargo were valued at 
four thousand dollars. The Gossack was puridiased 
for five thousand dollars, and was commissioned as 
an 8-gun privateer, under Captain J. Nash, ^fay, 1813. 
The GoieroJ i^tark took another i)rize, a slooj), but 
she was lost on Cape Cod. 

By the (dose of the year 1813 the recei]»ts from 
the sal(» of ])rizes brought into Salem amounted to 
$G7r),r>!ir).0:>. l^rom this time on, however, this port 
was rigorously blocked by the overwhelming mari- 
time forces of the enemy. At the beginning of the 
war the New England ports were peculiarly free 



1813-1814. CAPTURES BY THE DIOMEDE. 417 

from blockades, the English believing? that those 
States were opposed ((► Avar, and consequently it was 
oood pcdicy to befi-ien<l thein. The error was dis- 
covered after the war had been in progress a year, 
and then tlu^ British established a rigorons blockade. 
The list of Salem ]»rivateei's that had been captnred 
by the enemy down to November, 1818, includes the 
schooners Ixiyiihifor, Aclirc, Enterprise, and (Ujssack, 
and th<' bcuit (hrl. New and better vessels quickly 
supjdied the places of those that were lost or cap- 
tui-ed, and in spite of the blockade the Salem priva- 
teer managed to get to s<'a. 

The Dioiiiede, ('ai)tain J. Crowninshield, was one 
of tlu^ most successful i)rivateers toward the <dose 
of the war. In a short cruise she took six vessels 
and brought thirty-tive ]>risoners to Salem. Some 
of her })rizes in this and subse(iuent ventures were 
the schooners Mdrji <iii<l .lo.sepji, Hope, WiHidiii, and 
Trareller, the ships Ctxl llool- and Iptini, and the 
brigs Frieiuls, rrorideiiee, /hiriiioiii/, and Ixecorerf/. 
The I pion was not taken without a severe con- 
test. She mounted sixteen guns and had one hun- 
dred and four men aboard, and although many of 
these were passengers tlu^v gave a willing hand, 
and, taken altogether, made a formidable defense. 
They did not surrender until one man had been killed 
and one wounded. After making this long list of 
valuable prizes the Dioinede herself, while in a fog, 
on Jum^ 25, 1S14, was ca])tured l>v the enemy and 
sent int<> Halifax. 

The little i)rivateers AV//, ]'ipei\ >^c<)rp}oii, Leeeli, 
and (ieiieruJ PiifiKiiii also did good service before the 
war ende<l. The /7//, (''a])tain H. De Koven, took the 
s(diooner (Itorf/e, laden with drygoods, and sent her 
into i)ort, and also the sloop Experliiiciit, la<len 
with drygoods, hardware, and lumber, which ar- 
rived safely in Machias. The Viper seized a schooner 
that ])retended to be a S])aniard but was discov- 
ered to have a British license. She was sent 



418 PRIVATEERS OF SALEM. 1814. 

into X('wi>()i't. Tlu' I //>rr also took a schooner 
witli a <ai'.u(> of i-nni and siioar, which reached 
Newport, and ajiotlier schooner laden with dry- 
i»oods, which was sent into Salem. The ^^c(»-j)ioii, 
('a])tain J. Osborn, seized a sloo]> nionntin^" one li'nn, 
which was sent into Salem, and a scdiooner, whi(di 
was destroyed at sea. The Lvcch, in 1814, ca])tnred 
a sclioon«M- and ransonuMl it, and another schooner 
whi(di, after beiiiii divested of its valnables, was 
o'iven np to the ])risoners. The career of the (iviicrdl 
/*iilii<nii was l>i-ief, bnt n(»t withont valne. She took 
the handsome HSd-ton ship Occhh, of and for London, 
with a car_i;<> of masts, thirty-tive bowsprits, and 
otluM- timber for the nse of the A<lmiralty. She was 
sent into Salem. Snbse<|nently the (tciimil PiitiKDii 
hers<df was ca])tnred by the enemy. 

The last of tlie Salem ])rivateers to be noticcnl 
is the (Unhl. This was a sinjiidarly fortnnate vessel. 
Anions her hi'st ca]>tures was the s(dioonei* fict.scif and 
r/diic, from St. John's for Castine, with one hundred 
and uinet(MMi ])ackam'es of dryi^oods vabn^l at one 
hundred and tifty thousand (bdlars. Slie was sent 
into Thomaston. The (Uidct also took the schoonc^r 
Mar//, from St. John's for Castine, having;- a car_i;() of 
dry^'oods, with ^^'hi<■h \"ess(d she had a sinj^nlar ex- 
l)erience. It seems that the Man/ was bcnnji; escorte<l 
by a heavily armed S(diooner, and she ha<l not been 
more than a few hours out of ])ort when the ]irivateer 
Clidrlcs Stcinirl, ('a])tain II. Purcell, of Boston, hove 
in siii'lit and beiiian an action with the armed 
scdiooner. Just when the battle Avas <.;(*ttin;i;' critical 
a fourth sail appeared on the scene, whic h the com- 
mander of the (liarhs Slcirarl took to be an Euii'lish 
cruiser and sheei'i^d off. As a matler of fact, it was 
the American pi'ivateer ('iiiiihcrJmK], of Portland. As 
the (liiirJcs Slciraii disappeared below the horizon 
the ('iiiHh('i-]<in<J (doS(Ml with the armed S(diooner and 
look \\\) the batth^ where the (ImrJcs Sfnnirf had left 
off. Hut the Euiilishman was too hinivy for the ])ri- 



1814. STRANGE CAPTURE OF THE MARY, 419 

vateer, and the latter, after sustaining a loss of one 
man kill(Ml and one wounded, was glad to make lier 
escape. Meantime the Mari/ had become separated 
from her escort, and it was then that she fell into 
the clutches of the Cadet, and was captured and car- 
ried into Thomaston. 



OHAPTEil XVII. 

SOME TYriCAL CRUISES. 

One of i\w shortest, and at tlie same time one of 
the most snccessful, cruises made by an American 
jtrivateer in this war was that of the armed scliooner 
h'linj), ('a])tain Jacobs, of Baltimore. Tliis vessel 
had mad(^ two crnises early in 1814, and sailed from 
AVilminiiton, North Caridina, November 29, 1814, for 
the AVest Indies. Early in the eveninj^' of the second 
day ont, while in the (Inlf Stream, latitnde 32° 32' 
north, lon;L;itnde 77° Avest, (''ai)tain Jacobs descried 
a nnmber of vesstds a])])ar(Mit]y sailin,^' in company, 
and fi-om tlu^ir disposition he was satisfied that 
they were mercdiantmen nndei- the convoy of one or 
two ships of war. l^)r the renjaindei- of that nii;ht 
Captain Jacobs cantionsly mad(^ his way toward the 
sti'ani;ers, and abont dayliiL2,ht, December 2(1, he was 
near (Mion_i2,h to distintiiiish (M'li'ht m(M*(diantmen es- 
corted by a frigate. As the l\( iiip showed a disposi- 
tion to hanii on the ontskirts of the convoy, th<^ fi'ii^- 
ate, abont no(»n, ^ave (diase and drove the privateer 
away. 

This was jnst what the Americans most desired, 
and making short tacdcs windward Captain Jacobs 
di-ew the frigate away from tlu^ mendiantmen. The 
frigate's ])eople (evidently thon,i;ht they had a cood 
(diance of overtakinii tlu' i)rivateeis notwithstandinji- 
her snperiority in sailinii" windward, and they kei)t 
nj) the chase far into the nioht. Seizin^' a favor- 
able moment. Captain Jacobs snddc^ily concealed all 

420 



1814. CAPTAIN JACOBS' CLEVER RUSE. 421 

his lights, and niidcr cover of darkness gave the 
enemy the slip and immediately put back for the 
merchantmen. 

At eleven o'clock the next morning, December 
8d, the privateer came in sight of the convoy, but 
nothing could be seen of the frigate. This was the 
Kemp's golden opj)orl unity and she improved it to 
the fullest ext(Mit. Wasting no time with prelimi- 
nary maneuvering tlu' Kemp made straight for the 
convoy, which Captain Jacobs soon discovered to 
consist of three ships, three brigs, and two scdioon- 
ers. The English masti^'s of the meiMdiantmen were 
not slow in recogiuzing the Kemp as the privateer 
whi(h theii' protecting man-of-war had chased so 
furiously and so fruitlessly the day befor(% and, real- 
izing tliat th(\v must now i'(dy entircdy on their own 
guns, tliey prepared to give battle. So far as num- 
bers went the mer( hantuien had tlu^ advantage, for 
there were eight of tliem — each armed more or less 
heavily — against one little s( hooner. 

By the time the l\< mp was in gunshot she found 
all tlie merchantmen (dose together drawn u]> in line 
of battle and ])resenting a fornndable array of black 
muzzles toward her. Not waiting for the ]>i'ivateer 
to o])en the fight the Englishmen, at 2 w m., bore 
away for the /(cnip, and as eaidi ship passed d(div- 
ered a broadside. Paying no attention to this Cap- 
tain Jacobs reser^■ed his tii-e, tacked, and passing 
directly throngh tlie enemy's line (hdivered both 
broadsides at close (piarters. This had the effect 
of throwing the enemy into confusion. Tn their 
efforts to att;i(dv the audacious privateer the mer- 
(diantmen only succeeded in g(^tting in one another's 
way, so that only one or two of them conld bi'ing 
their guns to bear. Ca])tain Jac<d)s was fully alive 
to his advantage, and skillfully keeping one (d' the 
merchantmen betw<HMi his shi]) and the others he 
Avas in a position to deal with one at a time. At 
half ]»ast two o'clock Captain Jacobs ran alongside 



4-22 SOME TYPICAL CRUISES. 1814. 

one of the bri^s, the Portsra, carryin"; ei^'ht guns 
and twenty-six men, being laden with sugar and 
coffee, and boarded, carrying her without loss, ex- 
cepting for one seaman wounded. 

Half an hour later the Kemp ran alongside one 
of the ships, the IxusdheUa, of sixteen guns and thirty- 
five men, when First Officer flyers and Sailing-Mas- 
ter Sellers, at the head of eight men, sprang to her 
de(dc and carried her after a brief struggle with her 
men, three of Avhom wer<' injured. Shortly after- 
ward ('a])tain Jacobs boarded one of the sidiooners 
and carried her without opposition. The next vessel 
to be attacdced was the largest of th(^ brigs. Here 
a more determined opposition was met. The strug- 
gle lasted from fifteen to twenty minutes, when this 
vessel also was captured, making foui- ju'izes out of 
a convoy of eight vessels. Captain Ja<-obs would 
have secured the remaining four merchantmen had 
it not been for the fact that he could not spare an- 
other man for a ])rize cinnv. As it was, he now had 
almost as many ]>risoners as seamen, and, bcung scat- 
tered about in four diff'erent vessels, there was dan- 
ger of their rising and recovering their ships. 

Deeming it prud«Mit to return to America Cap- 
tain Jacobs allowed the rest of the meridiantmen to 
escape, and now gave his attention to getting his 
prizes into port. Nothing was seen of the frigate 
that had so furiously (dmsed the* Kemp when th(^ con- 
voy was first discovered. H(M' commander probably 
fell in with the remnant of his convoy a day or so 
later, and learned, to his sorrow, that while thunder- 
ing over the ocean waves in (base of the privateer 
the latter was (piictly li(d])ing herself to the mer- 
chantmen. 

The total foi'ce of the eight nuM'chant ships the 
Kiiiip engag(Ml was forty-six gnus and one hundred 
and thirty-foui' nu^i, as o])])os('d to the privateer's 
twelve guns and one hundred and thirty men. Cap- 
tain Jacobs took seventy-one priscmers. The Ameri- 



1814-181.-). CAPTAIN BARNES OF BALTIMORE. 423 

cans had only one man, Joliii Ii'wiii, killed, and four 
Avonndcd. The prizes were fonnd to be laden with 
valnable cargoes, consisting- mostly of sugar and 
coffee. The RoxuhcJUi and her cargo alone were esti- 
mated to be woi'th three hundred thousand dollars, 
but unfortunately, while endeavoring to enter 
Charleston harbor, she grounded on the bar and 
became a total loss. The wreck afterward was 
bui'ued by a IJritisli war brig. One of tlu^ schooners 
engaged was the (Uissdfh, formerly the (). If. Pcrfi/. 
The oth(^i' ])rizes of the hCuip succeeded in rea(diing 
Southern ])orts. In her cai-eer in this war the Kemp 
is credit (^d with tifteen i)fizes. 

Another eminently successfiil privateer was the 
Surprise-, ('ai)taiii Harm's, of Baltimore. This ves- 
sel ari'ived at Xew])oi't July 15, 1814, after a cruise 
of oiH' hundred and three days in the English and 
Irish diannels and off the \\'est(M-n Isles, in which 
she had been cliased sixteen times and had taken 
twelve or thirteen IJritish merchantmen. Refitting 
in Newport, the Siii-pfisc again made for English 
waters, and after making a number of ]trizes she put 
into l>rest, and on December 24, 1S14, receiv<Ml a 
salute of ele^■en guns from the I'^rc^nch admiral. On 
January 9, ISIT), she ])ut to sea on another venture. 
When tix'e <lays out she was hotly ]»ursued for sev- 
eral hours by a I>ritish war ship, wlii(di tired fifty 
shots at her. Evading the war slii]) in the night, 
('aptaiu IJarnes, about eleven o"clo( k on the morning 
of January 2Sth, discovered a sail on his lee quarter. 
As the wind A\'as light he manned his sweeps so as 
to draw away fi-om the sti-angei*, which had every 
a])pearance of being a heavy war vessel. The 
sti-auger seemed e(|ually anxious to come to (dose 
(piarters, and holding a better wind managed to ^;!;e't 
within gunshot by half ]>ast lw(dve o'clo(d\, at which 
tinu' she was tlying I'^uglish cidors. 

Seeing that an action ^^■as unavoidable ("aj^tain 
I'arnes siiowed American colors ami answered the 



424 SOME TYPICAL CRUISES. 1813-1815. 

Englishman's first broadside with spirit. A lieavy 
cannonading- was kept np until a quarter past two 
o'clock, when Captain Barnes, by the aid of his 
sweeps, gained a raking jxtsition nnder the eneni3''s 
stern, and after jxynring in a destrnctive broadside 
coinpelled the ship to surrender. She proved to be 
the English ship Sfdf, carrying eight 12-p()nnders 
and a crew of twenty-six men, from Batavia for Lon- 
don, laden with coffee and other valnable East In- 
dies produce. The Star had one man killed and one 
wounded, while several shots had taken effect in 
her hull, and her sails and rigging were cut to pieces. 
No one in the ^^iirpri.sc was hurt, but some damage 
was done to her sails, and her foremast and fore- 
topmast were wounded by round shot. 

liemoving a large i)ortion of the »S7f/r'.v cargo to 
his own ship, Captain Barnes sent eighteen men and 
a prize master aV)oar(l and proceeded with her to 
the United States. \Miil(^ drawing near the Aineri- 
<-an coast, I'^ebrnary 2(», 1815, the ships, during a 
snowstorm, became separated, but they both arrived 
in New York safely. The entire cargo of the aS7(7?- 
was estimated to be worth three hundred thousand 
dollars. It consisted of one thousand one hundred 
and (Mghty bags of sugar, five thousand and twenty- 
om^ bags of coffee, forty-fiAe tubs of camphor, two 
hundred and ninety-seven bags of sago, twenty-two 
bales of nankeens, eighty-three cases of cinnamon, 
and forty-five cases of tortoise shell. In all, the 
^^ II r prise is creditcMl with thirty-four prizes. 

One of the most satisfactory cruises in this war 
was that in which the privateer Caroliiw, Captain 
Almeda, of Baltimore, captured tw<> " traitor ves- 
sels." On November 20, 1813, this privateer fell in 
with the American sloo]) O.s/r/.v, Captain Driggs, from 
]Martinique for St. Bartholonu^w, with a cargo of 
molasses. Driggs, supposing that the (Uirolliic was 
a I>ritisli war vessel, came aboard and showed his 
P»ritish license, remarking that only recently he had 



1813-1814. SUCCESSES OF THE CAROLINE. 405 

supplied Captain Oliver, of the English man-of-war 
\'(ili(nif, with potatoes and apples. Driggs further 
said that he had received i)ay for these sn})plies and 
added that there would be no doubt of his being hung 
if he f<dl in with an American. Captain Almeda 
pi'oni])lly seized the Osiris and placed Mr. Caiion- 
ing, with a i)rize crew, in (diarge of her, with instruc- 
tions to make for ])ort. The other '' ti-aitor vessel " 
taken by the Cttroliiic was the brig Crilcrioii, with 
eighty hogsheads of rum aboard. She Avas sent into 
Stonington, Connecticut, where she was condemned. 
The CaynVuic was fortunate in making a number 
of ])rizes in the course of the war; but her first, a 
brig laden with sugar ami molasses, was recai)tured 
by the enemy while attempting to enter Charleston 
harbor. The (Uiroliiie was more fortunate with her 
other prizes in this cruise, as she succeeded in send- 
ing into a North Carolina port the brig Ahrl, from 
the West Indies, laden with rum and sugar, and a 
S(diooiu'r from Martini(iue, with one hundred and 
twenty hogsheads of molasses, into Charleston. The 
latter had both English and S^^wedish papers. The 
CdroHiic also took a brig from St. Lucia, with one 
hundred and forty hogsheads and two hundred bar- 
rels of sugar aboard, and sent her into Elizabeth 
City, North Carolina. P>esides these the (^aroliiie 
ca])tured ten vessels, which were depleted of the 
most available portions of their cargoes and burned. 
C;i]>tain Almeda returiUMl to Charleston only because 
ins vess(d could not hold any more goods. One of 
Ills prizes, the s(diooner JosrpJi, from Surinam, laden 
with cofTee, rum, and sugar, in endeavoring to run 
into (Jeorgetown, South Carolina, nearly became 
wreidvcd, but was saved by the skill of Lieutenant 
Monk, of the navy.^ 

' Tn a subspqupnt cruise, 1814, tlio Caroline took the bri<; ElizahetJi, for 
KiiiLTstoii (.Tiinuiica), which was sent into Charleston: tlie scliooner Jason, 
of Nassau, which was destroyed at sea ; the brig Experience, from Jamaica 
30 



j.26 SOME TYPICAL CRUISES. 1814-1815. 

Quite as fortunate as the ('(iroliiic was the Miun- 
inoth, Captain Rowland, also of Raltiinore. Her first 
prize was tlie eoppered-briin- (UuncJum, from the West 
Indies for New Brunswick, laden with rum and mo- 
lasses, which was sent into port; and her second was 
the sloop Farmer, with a car<.>o of provisions, which 
vessel was sunk. She also took the brig Britannia, 
from St. AndrcAVs for Liverpool, laden with lumber, 
which was destroyed, and three other bri_i;s in bal- 
last, which also werc^ burned at sea. W'liile off the 
coast of 'Newfoundland tli<^ Mannnotli had an action 
with an English transport haviuii on board between 
three and four hundred troo]>s. After a severe ou- 
ga<>enient, in which the privateer ha<l one man 
wounded, the Aniei-icans hauled off for " somethin*;' 
that was more valuable to them than nuM'e ukmi." 

Later in the war the Mduiuiofli took the hv\<i Crrcs, 
of Glasgow, laden with brandy, and mad(^ a cartel 
of her. In this ci-uise of only seven we(dvs the ])riva- 
teer iook sixtcMMi English merchantmen. I'oi- seven- 
teen days she hovered off Cape Clear, wliei'e most of 
her ca])tures were made. In all the Mdiniiiolli took 
twenty-one vessels and reh^ased on parole thi'ee hun- 
dred ]»rison(M's. Slie arrived at PortsuKuitli with a 
full cargo. In hw last cruise slu^ Avas not so 
fortunate, returning to New York in 1S15, after a 
long and fruitless search for British merchantmen. 
She was chased several times by the eiuuny's war 
shi]»s, and on one occasion, dui-ing a calm, she was 
attacked by theii- boats, but managed to repel them. 



for (idiiaivos. tlie last beintj" ehaseil ashoi'e on the island of Cuba by the 
enemy and was lost. Two othef vessels were relieved of the most vahi- 
aljle portions of tlieii' cars'oes and then Inirned liefore tlie Caroline re- 
turned to Chai'leston. In iicr last cmiise she burned the sloop Eliza and 
made a cartel of the seluxmer Jlarim^r. after takinu^ out her cargo of dry- 
goods. The Caroline also made a cartel of the lirig Stephen, carrying 
fourteen guns and a crew of thirty men, from St. Thomas for Cnracoa. 
The Caroline rdurned from this cruise to Wilmington, Nortii Carolina, 
with a full caruo. 



CIIAPTEK XVIII. 



PKIVATKintS A<;AINST riJIVATKEUS. 



A ii(>(('\V(»rl liy feature of tlie luaritiiue war of 
1812-181.") was tlic innnbcr of instances in wliicli onr 
pi'ivateers were ]>il ted against British vessels of 
the same class. When these aniatcMir cruisers of 
the war met it i^-enerally rc^sulted in a hard-foujiht 
battle, and in many cases some desperate stru,ii\nles 
took i)lace. One of the first actions of this kind 
occurred Anjiust 4, 1812, two weeks before the first 
fri<iate en^aiicment of the war, when the AnnM'ican 
])rivateer Sluidoir, Captain J. Taylor, of IMiiladelphia, 
foniihl the I'ritish letter of marciue Mai/ (or y<iit('i/), 
('a]»tain Attleck. Half an hour after meridian, An- 
ji'ust ^>, 1812, a sail was discovered fi'oni the mast- 
head of the SJiddoir, to which the Americans imme<li- 
ately jLi'avc chase. The stranger was soon made ont 
to be a lariic vessel, and ('a])tain Taylor sent all 
hands to (piarters. After a hard ruu of five hours 
the Sliddnir came u]) with the supposed mertdiant- 
man, but just as they were about to order the 
stranii'ei' to surrender the Americans were unpleas- 
antly surprised to tind theiuselves in the ])res<Mice 
of a lirltish man-of-war. No time was lost in takinii; 
in the Sliadoir's s(]uare sail and staysail and haulinji' 
by the wiud. 'I'lie En^lishiuan ])rom]»tly tacked in 
])ursuit, and o])ened a brisk fire from his (diase _t;uns. 
Some of his shot came aboard the ]>rivateer, but as 
the dauia^e was s]»eedily re])aired it did not cause 
the Amei'icans to los<' <iround. Bein_u' on her best 

4^7 



4-28 PRIVATEERS AGAINST PRIVATEERS. 1812. 

point of .sailing; the scliooiier uradmilly drew away 
from the man-of-war, and by eight o'elocdv that even- 
ing lost sight of her. 

At 12.30 P. M. on the following day, Angust 4:th, 
another sail was reported from the privateer's mast- 
head. This stranger Avas to the east, standing 
westward. Notwithstanding his narrow escape of 
the day before, Captain Taylor, on sighting this 
stranger, made all efforts to overtake her. In their 
eagerness to come up with the (diase, however, the 
Americans got a greater press of canvas on tln^r 
vessel than her masts conld bear, and at half 
past five o'clock the square-sail boom was carried 
away. The wrecdv was cleared as soon as possi- 
ble, and by rigging out the lower studding-sail 
boom, and setting the square sail again, Captain 
Taylor had the satisfaction of again gaining on the 
(diase. 

At six o"(dock the vesscds were so near that the 
stranger began firing from her stern guns. With- 
out rei)lying to this Captain Taylor, by seven o'clock, 
had gained a favorable position and opened from 
his battery. It was now (juite dark, and after the 
two ships ha<l maintained a running action for half 
an hour the stranger hoisted a light in her mizzen 
rigging, to whicdi Captain Taylor res])onded with a 
similar signal and at the same time liaihMl. The 
reply was that she was from Liver])ool. This an- 
swer was sufficient to induce the American com- 
mander to order the stranger to S(Mid a boat aboard 
with her papers. In a few minutes the boat came 
alongside and an officer and two imm boarded the 
SJiddoir, l)ut they failed to bring the shi]»'s papers 
with them. They were detaiiuMl aboard while an 
American boat in (diarge of Third Officer Thomas 
Yorke i)ut off to the stranger to dcMuand the papers. 
On gaining the Englishman's decdc and making 
known his errand, Mr. Yorke was curtly informed 
that the demand wouhl not be complicMl with. A 



1812. THE SHADUW-MAV BATTLE. 429 

note addressed to Captain Tavlcn' Avas then jj;iven to 
him, and Mr. Yorke retnrned to the ship. 

In tliis note the Britisli coniniander decdared that 
his shi]) was the British letter of marqne Mail (or 
X<iiiC!/)y from Liverpool, Captain Affieek, bonnd for 
St. I>ncia, and carried fonrteen ^nns and a comple- 
ment <tf tifty men. Cai)tain Affleck fnrther declared 
that the Orders in Council had been rescinded and 
that a ( hanj;e of ministi'V had taken i)lac(^ in Eng- 
land. Although the M<ii/, to all ai)pearances, was 
a formidable vessel. Captain Taylor was determined 
to have it out with her, and he again sent his boat 
aboard her witJi a peremptory demand for her 
])apers. As this was again refused both V(^ssels, at 
half past eight o'clock, opened a spirited tire. After 
the action had lasted about an hour a shot wounded 
the SIkkIoii-'s sailmaker, William Craft. About ten 
()\dock Ca])tain Taylor dro])])ed astern, intending to 
remain williin gunshot all night and resume the 
tight a I daylight. The wc^itlu^r was very sexually and 
dark, so that in order to make sure that the enc^ny 
could not give her the slij) under cover of darkness 
the Slnidoir kejtt within easy gunshot, and at inter- 
vals ran close up to the Englishman and f(»r a few 
minutes ke]>t u]> a brisk fire. 

On the return of day, having improved the in- 
tervening hours in repairing damages, Cai>tain Tay- 
lor ran close under the stern of tlu' enemy and began 
another severe action. It was not long before the 
Sliddoir received a shot in her stai'board bow whi(di 
shattered the wood (Muls, started the ])lank-sheer, 
and smashed sever;il tiiiibei-s. At half ])ast seven 
o'(dock she received another shot, almost in the same 
])lace but on the ])ort side, whi( h knocked the car- 
riage of the i)ort after gun to ])ieces, killed six men 
and wounded three. In s]>ite of these lunivy blows 
the Americans continued the tight for an hour 
longer, when Captain Taylor was killed by a ball in 
his left t<Mnple. Almost at the same time a shot 



430 PRIVATEERS AGAINST PRIVATEERS. 1812-1815. 

struck uiider the port fore chains, between wind and 
water, which started a dangerous leak. The surviv- 
iufjj officers now decided to withdraw from a contest 
obviously unequal, and with three feet of water in 
the ludd they drew away. The HIkhIoic arrived in 
Phihide]i)hia Au«;ust 18th. Hlie was refitted, and 
soon afterward sailed on another cruise.^ 

Later in the war the Hhadoir was captured by 
the enemy, and, on beiiii;- refitted, was taken into 
their service under the name Funnji, carrying nine 
guns. While running from La Guayra to London, in 
1815, the Fanini was recaj)tured by the privateer 
Lawrence, of Baltimore, Captain E. Vearey. A prize 
crew was placed aboard the Faiiiiif, but when near 
the American coasts they Avere driven into a Cuban 
port in distress. It is believed tluit on getting to 
sea again the Fainuj was lost, with all hands. The 
LairrcHcc was one of the successful privateers of the 
war, taking in all thirteen merchantmen, and on one 
occasion beating off a British brig of war. 

Another action that took place between an 
American and a British privateer in the summer of 
1812 was that between the (iJohc, Cajdain J. Grant 
(by some accounts Gavet), of Baltimore, and the 
Boi/d, of Liverpool. Tlu' dlohe was one of the first of 
our privateers to get to sea in this war, and she was 
generally successful. On July 21, 1812, or a little 
more than a montli after war had been de(dared, 
this privateer left the Chesai)eake capes in com- 
pany with the ]>riyateer Com. The Olohe carried a 
com])lemeut of about ninety men and boys. Speak- 
ing the slii]» }f<iniii()ii, of New Orleans for Baltimore, 
and the ship l^oiitJt (UifoliiKi, of and for the same 
ports, on the first and second days out, Captain 
Grant boarded a number of vesscds, but met no ship 
he could attack until July 31st, when a sail was dis- 
covered and chased. In three hours the Globe was 



' Ptir action between the privateers Rossie and Jeannie see page 306. 



1812. THE GLOBE-BOYI) ACTION. 431 

within oiiiishot, when she be<;an liring from her long 
toni, a J)-i)()nn(k^r ami(lshii>s. The chase hoisted 
Englisli (•oh)rs and returned the fire with her two 
stern guns, J)-])oun(h'rs. As it was blowing rather 
fresh at tlie time Captain (Jrant was unable to 
bring his broadside guns to bear, and so deter- 
mined lo liold on his present course, notwithstand- 
ing the number of guns the enemy could bring into 
action. 

Foi' forty minutes the nnefpial contest was main- 
tained, bolli vessels crowding on canvas, but the 
American had a decided advantage in sailing. 
At last the (ilohc began to double on the enem.y's 
quarter, when ('a]>tain (Jrant let go his forward 
division of guns, and, as his vessel gradually came 
abeam ihe chase, he opened with his entire broad- 
side guns, Avhi( h had been carefully loaded with a 
double (diarg(» of round shot. After the first dis- 
(liarge Ihe American gunners loaded with langrage 
and round shot. The Englishman returned the fire 
Avith spirit, answering broadside for broadside, and, 
as the vess(ds gi-adnall^' (Mlgcd towai'd eacdi other, 
gave volley for volh\v of musketry and pistols. For 
an hour and a half this contest was kept up, when 
the stranger sui'i*endered, announcing herself to be 
the lioi/d, from Xew Providence foi' TJverjxxd, with 
a valuable cai'go of colTee, dyewoods, and cotton. 
The Jioi/d cai'i'ied two long !)-])ound«M'S, two short 12- 
]M>unders, and six long (>-])ounders. Both vessels 
wei'e vei'v much cut u]) in sails, rigging, and hull; but, 
strange to say. no one had been hurt. Transferring 
the crew of the lioi/d, exce])ting an otticer and two 
nu'n, to the (IJohc, Captain (Jrant ]>lace(l a prize mas- 
ter and eight men aboard Ikm*, with orders to make 
the nearest American jxtrt. Seven of the English 
])i*isoners entered the fHohc's crew. On the follow- 
ing <lay, August 1st, Captain (Jrant i)arted company 
with the n<>i/<J and went in search of two other Eng- 
lish vess(ds, whi( h were* expected to pass that way 



432 PRIVATEERS AGAINST PRIVATEERS. 1812. 

iu a day or two, the Boyd arriving in Philadelphia 
a few days later. 

On the day he parted from his prize, August 1st, 
Captain Grant gave chase to a schooner, but lost her 
in the night. He saw another sail that evening, but 
missed her also. At eleven o'clock on the fcdlow- 
ing morning the (Jlohc came in sight of Bermuda, 
and i)assing with gunshot cruised off the place under 
English colors. At sunset a sail was discovered 
dircM'tly ahead, but when near enough it was seen 
to be a British slooj) of war. This, of course, was the 
time for the (ihjhv to "show a (dean pair of heels;" 
and that is what Captain (Jrant proceeded to do, 
with the Englishman in full ( hase. In an hour or so, 
however, the enemy gave up the hopeless endeavor 
to come up with the swift privateer. On the after- 
noon of the following day a stdiooner to windward 
Avas discovered and (diased. As the wind had almost 
died away Captain (Irant got out his sweeps, and 
from four to eight o'( hx Ic liis men exerted them- 
selves to come up with the stranger. The Olohe 
slowly overhauled the schooner, but it was night 
before she was within gunshot, and in the darkness 
she escai)ed. 

The (jlJ(jhc now began to run short of water, and 
by August 8th both ofticers and men Avere placed on 
an allowance of three quarts a day, the seamen ex- 
(dianging their liquor, quai't for quart, for water. 
On the 14th the (lloJx' chase<l and captured, without 
resistance, the English S(diooner Aim, mounting four 
guns and manned by nine men, from San Domingo 
for Guerns(\v, lad(Mi with mahogany and logwood. 
Several of the seamen in the Aim enlisted in the 
Glohc. Captain Grant now shaped his course home- 
ward, arriving safely at Baltimore with his prize. 

Later in the war the (jJohv took a number of 
prizes, among them being the ship ^ir Siiiion Clark, 
carrying sixteen guns and thirty-nine men, from 
Jamaica for Leith. She was laden with a cargo of 



1812. CHECKERED CAREER -OP THE MATILDA 4.33 

sugar, rum, aud coffee, wliicli was (•omi)ut(Ml to l)0 
\Yortli anywhero froui ouc hundred thousand to one 
hundred and fifty thousand (h)llars. The inerchant- 
nian was not taken without a severe fight, the Ameri- 
cans finally carrying her hy boai'ding, after a brisk 
cannon fire, in w hi(di foui* »d" the l*]nglish were killed 
and their commander and three men wei'e severtdy 
wounded. The s(M-ond ofhcer and drumuHM- of the 
(ilobc were killed and <»ne man was wounded. She 
was tak(Mi into Norfolk by a prize crew. While 
cruising off tln^ coast of Portugal on another cruise, 
the (llohc, then comiuaiided by John ]\Iiir})hy, was 
attacdced by an Algerine sloo}) of war. The action 
was continued, of!' and on, for three hours at half- 
gunshot distance, when the Algerine drew off, a])- 
jiarently in a bad condition. The privateer received 
no less than eighty-tw(t shots through her sails, but 
had only two men wounded. 

Three other im])ortant i>rizes taken by th<' (llohe 
in this war wen^ the brig K'uK/stoii Packet, with a 
valuable cargo of rum aboard, whi(di was sent into 
Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina; the shi]) Venus, car- 
rying fourteen guns, from Cadiz for Newfoundland, 
with a full cargo of salt; and the ship Heafoii. The 
last was captured by the privateer /*<inl Jones, of 
New \'ork, and was ordered to the United States 
in (diarge of a prize crew. The vessel, soon after 
]>arting comi)any with the ran] Jones, ]»rov<'d uiisea- 
worthy, ;ind on meeting with the (llohe slu^ was 
burned a( the reipiest (d' her ])rize master.' 

Probably no American ]>rivateer in this w.w had 
smdi a varied ex]>erience as the ll-gun schoonei' 
Mdiiidd, Cai)tain II. Kant in, of Philadelphia. Slu' 
got to sea about duly 15, 1S12, and when a few days 
out ca])tured a brig from San Domiugo for London, 
which arrix'ed at the Mnl'iUUrs home port, August 
lOlh. A few days after taking this brig the Maiildn 



' For action between the Globe and two packets, see i)p. 455-459. 



434 PRIVATEERS AGAiNST PRIVATEERS. 18r2-18ia. 

fell ill Avitli the English brig Rdiu/cr, Captain John 
Heard, which was taken only after a stnbbornly eon- 
tested aetioii, in which the British conmiander was 
killed. The prize was sent into Philadelphia, and a 
newspaper of that city, under date of Angnst 23, 
1812, notes: " Yesterday the remains of Captain 
Heard, of the British brig Ndin/vr, were interred with 
the res]>ect whicdi honor and valor, even in an enemy, 
can never fail to inspire. Captain Heard was cap- 
tnred, with his brig, by the privateei' Mdtihln, of this 
port, after a smart action, in which he received a 
wound of whi<di he unfortunately died. The funeral 
was attended by the ofti<'ers <d' the United States 
army and navy now in this city and by the uniformed 
volunteer cori)s. The rhilad(dphia Blues, com- 
manded by Colomd L. Ifush, ixM-formed the funeral 
honors. The war of freemen is md with virtuous 
men of any nation, but against tln^ tyranny and o])- 
pression of rulers, and generosity must even shed 
a tear over those whose unhappy l<d is to be victims 
of tlndr injustice." 

In July of 1S13 the Mdlilda f«dl in with a large 
ship, whicdi was mistaken by the Americans for a 
merchantman. She provcMl to be the ])rivateer Liou, 
built as a frigate, to b(^ ]>resented by the- English 
(Tovernment to the Turks, but later converted to 
private use. She was pierced for twenty-eight guns, 
and at the time she met the MdtihJd was manned by 
one hundred and twenty men. Ca]>taiii Baiitin did 
not discover the real forcc^ of this vesscd until he had 
boarded hei" with m^arly all his officers; and had 
he been ]n'om])tly followed by his seamen he wouhl 
hav<* captured her, for most of the British crew ha<l 
run b<dow. A heavy sea, however, can-ied the two 
sliii)s a]>art, leaving the American officcn-s unsup- 
ported by their men. Taking in the situation at a 
glance the Englishmen rallied, and, after overpower- 
ing the officers of the privateer, made sail for the 
MdtUdd and soon compelled Ik^' to surrender. In 



1813. THE NED-MALVINA ACTION. 435 

tills action ('ai)taiii Hani in and twenty oi- thirty of 
liis men were killed. The sni'vivors were carried into 
Baliia, from which ])lace they sailed for New York 
in the shi]> \\'ini(tiii, Captain Davis. 

The liritish immediately refitted the Maf'thht and 
sent her to Eni^land, bnt while in the Eiii;iish Chan- 
n(d she ^\■as recaplnred by the United vStates bri^- 
of wai- Ar(/iis, Mastei'-(\tnimandant William Henry 
Allen. A f(nv days aftei- taking' the Mafildd the Ar(/ti.s 
was captni-ed by the /'clicdii, Allen dyino- from in- 
jni'ies he received in the ti^ht.' The notice quoted 
from a rhiladeli)hia newspa]»er relative to the burial 
of ('a]>tain Heard, of the lidin/cr, will api)ly to the 
attention paid to b(»th Kantin and Allen, the Eng- 
lish in both cases honorinii the American command- 
ers in every jtossible way. 15nt the Mafihht was not 
yet saf(dy "out of the woods," for shortly after her 
reca])tnre by the Ari/ns she was recaptured by a 
British 74-,gnn shij) of the line. A British prize crew 
was placed aboard and or<lei'ed to Enju'land, but be- 
fore liaininii' a i)lace of safety the Mdflhht was taken 
for th(^ fourth time, beinj;- seized by the American 
])rivateer (Icinral A niislroiH/, and was sent into i)()rt. 

On April 24, lSi;i, the Anu^'ican jtrivateer Xv<], 
CajMain J. Dawson, of Baltimore, ai'rive<l at New 
York rid Lonu Island Sound fi'om T^a Teste. She 
re])orted that while in latitude 44 54' north, lonni- 
tude IT) west, she f(dl in with the ])rivateer Malriiid, 
from the .Mediterranean for Lond(Hi, Avhi(di vt^ssel 
mounteil ten j^uns — (J- and l)-])ounders — and after n 
close action, lastinjn' fifty-two minutes, ca])tured her. 
The Americans had sexcn men badly wotinded, while 
the commander of the Mdlriiid wixs killed and a num- 
ber of his men wounded. The ])rize was found to be 
laden with wiiu\ Mr. Penderson was ])laced aboard 
as a prize master, and carried her into a North Caro- 
lina port. 

' See ^lai-lay's Eistory of the United States Xa\ y, vo]. i, ]){>. 5'23-5i9. 



436 PRIVATEERS AGAINST PRIVATEERS. 181^-181:!. 

Returniug to Ainorica the Ned endeavored to 
enter the Chesapeake, bnt when she came in si.ii'ht of 
the Capes, April IStli, she was chased by a 74-oun 
ship of tlie line and a frigate. :Makino her way north- 
ward, she tried, on the 19th, to i-nn into the Delaware, 
bnt here also she was chased by the English block- 
ading shi]>s, and when off Sandy Hook, on the 2()th, 
she was driven away by a siniihir force. On April 
21st Ca]>tain Dawson managed to rnn the gantlet of 
fonr or five British war shi])S, and tonched at New 
London foi* a Sonnd jnlot, aftei' which he nia<le his 
way to New York. The Ned sailed again in the 
summer of 1813, this time under Captain Ilackett, 
but on 8e])tember Gth she was captured, after a 
chase of four days, by the British sloop of war 
Roi/dlist. 

On Doc(Mnb(^r II, 1S12, tlu^ ]n'ivateer ^(iralof/d, Cap- 
tain Charles W. Wooster, of N(nv York, appeared oft' 
La Ciuayra and sent his first ofticer ashore, who re- 
ported to the American consul that his ship was 
twenty-four days from New York and had met no 
sail. On the following day Ca])tain Wooster ran 
down and anchored in the roads, but a few minutes 
lat(M' a messenger hastened aboard with a note from 
the American consul advising Captain Wooster to 
weigh anchor and keej) out <d' reach of the batteries, 
as the commandant had avowed his intention of sink- 
ing the ]>rivateer if she came to. Captain Wooster 
acted on tlie advice^ and stood off. Shortly after- 
A^:ard he discovered a scdiooner standing down the 
coast, some miles to windward of La Guayra. Run- 
ning down to her he boarded and captured her. Di-y- 
goods valued at twenty thousand dollars were found 
in her hold. Early in the morning of the following- 
day there w^as a heavy fog along the coast line, but 
about nine o'clock it 1 if led, revealing to Captain 
Wooster a brig some miles seaward endeavoring to 
make the port. The Si(traf()<i<i stood for the stranger, 
and two hours later both vess(ds tacdvcd off shore. 




/ «^ 1 



1812. THE SARATOGA-RACHEL BATTLE. 437 

To the people ou shore it was known lliat the 
briii' Avas tlu^ Enj^lish letter of inai-(|ne l\<icli( I, from 
(rrcMMiock, armed with twelve loui;' S)-[)onn(lers and 
carryin,!.; a (•oini)lement of sixty men and boys. She 
had alxKird a car^o valned at fifteen thonsand 
lH)un(ls sterling. The news <|uickly spread that a 
naval eni;aiiement was imminent off tlie ])(>rt, and 
in a short time all bnsiness was snspended, every- 
body hasteninii' to the shore lo witness the fiju'ht. 

After standin.ii- oiT shore some time the two ves- 
sels snddenly tacked landward, and when within five 
miles of the slioi'e the Krnv//of/a opened from her star- 
board bow iiiin, which was answered l)y the brig's 
]>oi't (|nart<'r gnns. Tlic two vessels maintained a 
heavy cannonading f(tr a few minntes, when the 
Americans boarded and compelled the enemy to sur- 
render. ()n the ]>art of the Americans one man was 
wonnded, bnt in the RnvlicJ only the s(M-ond officer 
was unhurt, nearlx' all of her men having been killed 
or wounded. On December loth ('a]Hain Woostei' 
sent twenty-five i)risoners with the second officer of 
the RttclirJ to La (Jiiayra in the brig's longboat, to- 
gether with every ai-ticle belonging to them as per- 
sonal prop(M'ty.' 

About this time a small English ]M'ivateer, name 
not given, was taken by the privateer Rapid, of 
Charleston. The LUxiii/, of Baltimore, also ca])tured 
a British pi-ivateer. and after divesting her of guns 
and valuables gave her up to the prisoners. A 
battle also took ])lace Ix^tween the ])rivat(H^r ^fi(J(ls, 
('a])tain Thom]»son, of Baltimore, and the Dasli. The 
M'xhis carried eight guns and thirty-five men, while 
her opponent mounted tive and was manned by forty 
men. The action took place off Tybee lighthouse, 
where the I)(is]i ha<l ca])tured three coasting vessels 
from Savannah, learning the Englishman's where- 
abouts (''ai)tain Thom])son ])ut to sea, and coming 
u]»on the DdsJi ca])ture<l her with all her prizes. 



' For action between the Saratoga and a packet, see pp. 454-455. 



43S PRIVATEERS AGAINST PRIVATEERS. 1815. 

One of llic last actions between privateers in this 
WAV took i)la(e on Jannary 31, 1815. At noon of this 
(hiy the Kl-iiiin bi'ii; Mdcdoiioiit/li, Captain O. AYilson, 
of Khode Island, discovered a lar^e shij) to leeward, 
some six miles off. As the Americans drew nearer 
it was noticed that she was makino' sionals and ap- 
parently had two rows of ports. By 1 p. m Captain 
Wilson had api)roached sufficiently near to discover 
that the lower row of ports was fals(% upon which 
he ])re])ai'ed for action. At 2 p. m. Ik^ bore up for the 
stranger's weather <inarter and showed his colors, 
the stran^<^r all this time waitini;- with his courses 
np for the atta(dv. By 2.30 p. m. the vessids were 
within musket shot, wIkmi the action became severe. 
It was now observed that the stranger was usinj; 
only seven i;uns to a broadside, but was pourinjj;' in 
a ti'emendous musketry hre, whi(h led Captain Wil- 
son to b(di(M'e that she had a lar^i^ number of sol- 
diers aboard. At 3.30 p. m. the MdcdoiiotK/li passed 
clos(^ uiKhM' the enemy's bow and raked with effect. 
It was then S(M'n that the enemy's de(d-:s were 
crowded with trooi)s, who were making' (^ood use of 
their small arms. Fifteen minutes later Captain 
Wilson found that his sails and ri_«i|L>in.ii' were serious- 
ly injur(Ml, while a larj^e number of his men had been 
killiMl or wouuih'd, besides which several shot had 
taken eff(M-t near the privat(Mn''s water line, which 
caused her to leak seriously. Seeinjn' little chance of 
ca])turin.u tlu^ stranger Captain Wilson sluM'red off, 
while the Eniilishmen, also having- had enough of 
the fight, made away in th<^ direction of Teneriffe. 
It was noticed that many of her men were slung OA^er 
her sides, stopping shot holes n(mr lun' water line. 
The Mitvdonomjh arrived at Savannah ^Farcdi Ttli, hav- 
ing taken nine prizes in her entire cann^r in this war. 



CHAPTEK XIX. 

NEW YOKK rUIVATEERS. 

XoTwn iis'rAM>iN(; the fad that the liritisli niain- 
taiiK'd a ri^oi-oiis blockade off Sandy Ilook and in 
]j^]\iX Island Sonnd in the course of the Avar, New 
York niana.ii'ed to send to sea fifty-five jirivateers. 
The <-areers of many of these hav<' been recorded 
in other (dia]>ters. Of the reniaininu,- the Ihtijduihi 
Fniiikliii was one of tlie first to li'et to sea, h^avinj;- 
port about July 24, 1812, and returning;' An<i:nst 24th, 
in whi(di time she made seven prizes and twenty- 
eioht prisonei's. This privateer was a scdiooner 
carryinii' eiuht yuns and one hundred and twenty 
men, under the command of Captain .1. In^erscdl. 
Her tirst jn-izes were the bri_i>s Fylcnds and Mar//, 
whi(di arrived safcdy in Boston, and the sloo]) Louisa 
A)UL The last was ca])tured in a most darinc; man- 
ner. The sloo]» was securely ancdiored in Trinity 
hai'bor, .Mart iiii<pie, under the ^iins of a battery of 
tw(dve lS-])oun(lers. She had a valuable car^o of 
molasses aboard, and was awaitino- an opportunity 
to <»et to sea. Seven ukmi from the privateer volun- 
teered to take her by sur])rise, and ])uttin,n- off in a 
boat they atta(d-:ed the sloop and ca])tured her. The 
Hoijdiiiiii Fni)ild\n also captured the new and valu- 
able briii" 'Joint, from La Guayra for Gibraltar, armed 
with ten 12-])ounders and laden with coffee and 
cocoa, whi( h was sent into New York; the bi'i<»- Tiro 
lirolhvrs, also sent into New Y''ork; and the S(diooner 
Success, from Newfoundland for Ne^v RrunsAviidv, 

439 



440 NEW YORK PRIVATEERS. 1812-1814. 

with two hundred and fifty barrels of salmon 
aboard. 

Tli(^ ])rivateers DlrUhd IVr Fall and Viiltcd We 
Stdin], in kee])in<i' with their names, were generally 
found crnising in company. The forim^r was com- 
manded by Captain J. ('roi)sy and the latter by Cap- 
tain \V. t^toi'ey. One of their prizes was a brig 
mounting ten guns and having a very vahiable 
cargo, which was sent into Savannah. Tlie Diridrd 
]]'<■ Full also took and ransomed two vessels, snnk 
another, and gave \\\^ three others after the most 
desirable portions of their cargoes had been re- 
moved. Most of these vessels were known as 
*' droghers," or West India trading vessels, which, as 
a rule, were richly laden. 

Of the privateers FJirf, (ruUowdji^ Hero, Hcnrji 
Guilder, Mor(/iana, and M<irs little is recorded. The 
brig Flirt, Captain Storer, is credited with taking 
the brig CoDiuicnr, from Martinique for Halifax, 
laden with rum and molasses, but the prize was par- 
tially dismantled, and so badly injured in other re- 
spects that she was destroyed. The (htUord)/ on her 
passage to Nantes, April, 1814, captured and sent 
into that port the brig Fdini/i, of London, laden 
with fish. The sloop ffcro, Ca])tain T. Waterman, 
had an unusual experi(^nce witli one of her prizes. 
On her passage to l^^rance she took the schooner 
Yictoriii, which was manned and ordenMl to an 
American port. Soon aft(^r parting company with 
the Ifrro, the ]'icl()ri(i was recaptured by a British 
war vessel, and the American prize crew, with the 
exception of one man, was taken aboard the man- 
of-war and their plac<^s taken by Englishmen.. The 
one American left in the Victoria, however, per- 
suaded the new ])rize crew to run their vessel into 
an American ])ort. This was done as soon as they 
had lost sight of the war slii]), and the Vivtorid ar- 
rived at Charleston. The Hero, in 1814, captured the 
scjiooner Rohcrt TJarltnll, from Antigua for Bermuda, 



1814. CRUISES OP THE MARS, MORGIANA, AND HOLKAR. 44 1 

with a cargo valiUMl at twenty thousand dollars, 
which was sent into Newberue; the schooner Fun- 
cIkiII, sent into tlie same port; and two vessels which 
were ransomed. A cutter named //cio was manned 
by volunteers in Stonington, Connecticut, and cap- 
hired tlie king's scdiooner Fo.r, a tender to a sliip of 
the line. 

The llciiri/ (liiihhr was fortunate in capturing, in 
1S14, tlic scliooner YnniKj I'di-iiicr, from La Guayra, 
laden with indigo worth forty tiiousand dollars. The 
l)rize arrived in New York. The Mars Avas ecpially 
fortunate in cai)turing the S(diooner Sifsaii (iiuJ JJIiza, 
of Hermuda, and sending her into Wilmington, with 
her cargo of one liiindred and twenty thousand 
l»ounds of colfee. In the same cruise the M(ir.<< sent 
into Charleston the brig Sufx rh, with a cargo of salt. 
About February, 1814, this ])rivateer was chased 
ashore on Kockaway ])ea(di by a British 74-gun ship 
of the line and a frigate. Forty of tlie Americans 
esca]»ed with sixteen thousand dollars in specie, and 
thirty were ca])tured by the enemy, while forty-three 
]»risoners were recaptured. In this cruise the Mars 
had been (diased eleven times. Late in the war the 
Morf/'KiiKi, (''a])tain (J. i'ellows, took the S(diooiier 
Siiltn)! and the shij) Ci/i/ of Liiiicricl-, the lattt^r with 
a very valuable cargo of g(Mieral merchandise. The 
l^iiHaii was sent into \\'ilinington, and the ('(/// of 
Limerick was or<lered into ])ort after tln^ most desir- 
able ]»ortion of her cargo had biM'ii transf(M-red to 
the MorfiidiKi. The MonjUiiKt returned to port with 
two hundred and tifty thousand dollars' worth of 
goods. 

.Moi-e (list inguislied than thes(^ privateers were 
the IS-guii brig lloll:(ir and the lO-guii brig llvraUl. 
The former, commanded by ('a])tain T. liowland, 
took the shii).l urora, mounting t welve guns, and with 
a cargo of drygoods worth three hundred thousand 
dollars, which arrived in Newport. In the same 
cruise the Ilollar took the lO-gun brig Finn, manned 



442 NEW YORK PRIVATEKRS. 1813-1814. 

by tweiity-tivc nicii, from Portsinoutli for Botany 
Bay. The J-Jmii had ou board forty-nine women con- 
victs. These were landed on tlie island of St. Vin- 
cent, one of the Cape de A>rdes, with provisions 
enonji'h for fonr months. It is recorded that the hJiiiii 
" was a kin<;'s ship carrying- twelve gnns, and was 
provided with a ' patent defense ' snrnioniitin«^' her 
bulwarks, composed of sprin<i bayonets, to prevent 
boardinj;-. She had a <;reat (piantity of ammunition 
on board. She was commanded by an arrogant lien- 
tenant of the Bi'itish navy, who could not persuade 
his crew to hi^ht the Yankees." l^»ur other prizes 
taken by th(^ llolkar were the schooner Nicltard, 
which was sent into Savannah; a 14-oun brig-, sent 
into New York; and two trading vessels. 

While in Long Island Sound, endeavoring to 
gain her port, the Hollar was (diased ashore near 
New London by the British frigate Orpheus. This 
cruiser had been very active in liarassing our ves- 
sels, having taken a number and compelling others 
to beach. After running his vessels ashore. Captain 
Rowland managed to get all his cargo on land, to- 
gether with his twenty-five prisoners. Observing 
that tlie Orplniis was sending her boats to attack 
him. Captain Rowland prepared for a desperate de- 
fense and succeeded in rep«dling the enemy. It is 
said that, after the fight, fifttMMi bodies of the Eng- 
lishmen were washed ashore, among th(Mr killed 
being Captain C<dlins, of the marines. R<^alizing 
that he could not save his vess(d. Captain Rowland 
esca])ed with his men, after which the Orpheus ran 
close in and soon destroyed the ])rivate(^r. 

The Ifenild began her operations later in the war. 
She arrivcMl in New York, D(M-ember 2(5, 1813, and re- 
ported that on her passage from Charleston she had 
an action with an English schooner, but after ex- 
changing several broadsides they became separated 
by darkiK^ss. One of the most iin])ortant ])rizes in 
t he war was made by this privatcM^r. In June or July, 



1818-1815. tup: invincible, JONQUILLE, AND MARENGO. 443 

1S14, she seized the shij> Frlvndslilp^ from London 
for Lisbon, wbicli was sailing nnder Swedish colors. 
Her cargo was believed to be English, however, and 
as it was invoiced at one hnndred thonsand ])()iin<ls 
she was sent into Wilmington. The I/cntJd also took 
the schooner I'llcii, from Helfast for Lisbon, laden 
with beef, ])oik, and lard, which was sent into Bean- 
foi't, and a brig and schooner laden with fish, which 
were sent into Oci-acoke Inlet. Another privateer 
called Ilcnihl, a 17-gun schooner commanded by Cap- 
tain J. .Miller, was commissioned from New York. 
She was ca])tnred lat*^ in the war, after a (diase of 
four hours by two I>i-itish frigates. No prizes have 
been credited to her. 

The I nriiicihU\ the J<ui<iiiiJJ(\, and the MarciH/o were 
])rivateers that <lid good service toward the (dose of 
the wai'. 'i'he tii'st took a ship in ballast from Liver- 
pool for Antigna, aiul sent her into Wilmington; the 
brig X'uiihir, with a cargo of West India ])rodnce, sent 
into Teneriffe; the S(diooner Prutcc I\c(/nif, mounting 
ten guns, which was given up after her armament 
had been taken aboard the I iiruic\Uh'\ the cutter 
Li/oii, with drygoods and hai'dware, div(^sted and re- 
leased; the brig I'ortxci, cai'rying eight guns; the 
brig Coinrdi/, of ten guns, with a cargo of drygoods, 
;iud oi'dei'ed for the Luited States; the schooner 
rraiicis (tiid lyiici/, with tish, oil, and lumber, and con- 
vei'ted into a cartel; the brig Manjurvtta, laden with 
wine. 

The J()u<iiiiJh\ ('a])tain E. Carman, in A])ril, 1S14, 
took the sch(»oner ('ohlidiii, of B(M'mu(la, and sent her 
into Wihuingtou; a brig la<len with fish, whi(di was 
sent into p(trt; the sidiooner St. Jitlnrs, with coffee, 
whi(h was ransomed; a S( hooner, which was turned 
into a cartel; ai!<l the sloop 7V////r/r/f/, laden with 
coffee, hides, and logwood, whi( h was buriUMl. The 
JoiKiiiillc arrived at I>eaufort in ISIT), nine days from 
Port-au-lM'ince, with a full cargo. 

The .]f<in')i<io, Ca])tain J. Kedois, was one of tlie 



444 NEW YORK PRIVATEERS. 1813-1814. 

most successful i)i'ivat<Mn's that sailed from New 
York, taking- in all eight merchantmen, seven of 
which arrived in port and one was burned at sea. 

The lO-gnn privateer Onlvrx in CouiivU, Captain 
J. Howard, having a complement of one hundred and 
twenty men, captured the brig Ladji Harriot, with 
a cargo of wine, from Cadiz, and sent her into New 
York, and a brig laden with salt, which she cut out 
of Turk's Island. On lier second cruise this priva- 
teer, then on her wav lo Bordeaux, fell in with the 
king's cultei* WcJIiiit/foii, ai'ined with t\v(dye long 12- 
pounders and manned by tifty-seven nuMi. An action 
began within musket shot, and was maintained with 
considerable energy for one hour and twenty-two 
minut(^s, when the cutter was compelled to sheer off. 
The crew of the i)rivateer at this time had been 
reduced by siid^ness to fifteen men ready for duty. A 
few days affer her encounter with the IVf ////////o;/, the 
Orders in Coinivil was chased, January 1, 1813, by 
three English ])rivateers, and in his efforts to get 
away from them Ca]>tain Howard ran under the guns 
of the British Tl-gun line of battle shi]) XiirrcUhntt, 
and was comjxdled to surrender. In all this jn-iva- 
teer had made four ]»rizes. 

Several ])rizes of value were made by the Rosa- 
mond, Ca]»tain J. Campan, and the Shark, Captain B. 
d'Elville. The first took the l)rig lio(}>iirl\ with a full 
cargo of rum, from (Ji-enada for Jersey, wliich was 
sent into Norfolk. Tlie h'ochiicl- was a s]>len(lid ves- 
S(d, formerly bcdongiiig to the ruitcd States, but 
was ca]»tui'ed by the Orders in (Utii)ivil. The Ixosa- 
iHoiid also took the schooner Adeln, with a cargo of 
sugar, fi'om Martini(|uc, sailing iindci- S]»anish colors, 
wliich was sent into New \'ork; and the schooner 
Antelope, which was sent into Charleston. The S]tarJ{, 
in ()ctob(n', 1S14, took the schooner Marif, with three 
thousand pounds worth of di-ygoods, fi'om Jamaica 
for San Domingo, whi(di was sent into New Orleans; 
and five vessels off th<^ coast of Portugal, three of 



181:^1814. FATE OF THE TEAZER. 445 

Avhicli were released and two were onlered to i]\o 
United States. 

The YoiiiKi Edf/lc at the ontset of her career had 
a si)irited en<;aiiement with two heavily armed mer- 
chantmen, the shi]) (IrciKidd and the scdiooner ^IkkI- 
c/oc/r, Avhi( h were attacke(l in company. The (irciKida 
was a shi]) of seven hundred tons, niounte<l eleven 
jiiuns, and had a crew of thirty men. She was from 
dnadeloiiix' bound for London, with a cariio consist- 
in<i- ])riucipally of seven hundred lio.<;sliea<ls of su^ar 
and hu'i^e (inantities of cotton and coffee. The SIhkI- 
(lock was bound for Tiver])ool from Aiitiji,ua, with a 
caruo of UKdasses. The Yoimij FakjIc had only one 
ouu, the unfailini;- lon.u tom, and was manned by 
forty-two men. The action lasted one hour and a half 
when both mer( liantmen were captured. The master 
of the SJidddock was killed and two of his men were 
wounded. The (li-ciiddd lia<l three of her people in- 
jured, but no one in the )'onii(/ HiKjlc was hurt. The 
(lr(nddd was sent into (Miarleston and the Slidddod: 
into Xe^^■ ^'ork. 

The I //*'/■, Cajdain T). l)ithurbid(s sailed from 
Charleston, I'ebruary 24, 1S13, and after a cruise 
arrived at New l)<'dfor(l, Mandi 4th. In this time 
she to(d-: three valuable vessels, whi(di realized, on 
sale, one hundred and fifty thousand (hdlars. The 
])rivateer )'orJx-f()ini, ('a])tain T. W. Story, <>()t to s<'a 
eai'ly in the war, and by May 30, 1813, sln^ had mad*^ 
eleven |»ri/es. On July 17th of this year she was 
cai»lured by an I^niilish s(|ua(lron and sent into 
Halifax. 

The ]»eculiai" danii'ers to whi( h the ])rivateersman 
was ex]>osed are well illustrated in the career of the 
VVv/rr/-. of New York. This craft, under the command 
of (''ai>laiu V. Johnson, liol to sea early in the War of 
1812, and amonii' her first i)rizes w(M'e the l()-_iiun 
packet .1////. whi(di was sent into Portland, and the 
schooner (Irci/lioinid. A ])riz(^ crew was thrown 
aboai'd the latter, with orders to make foi* the most 



440 NEW YORK PRIVATEERS. 1812-1813. 

available AiiH'ri<aii ]M>i't. In carryinj;- out these iii- 
strnctious the ])rize master of the (ircj/lioHud was 
chased and overtaken by the 74-onn ship of the line 
La JI<i(/uv, Cai)taiu Capel. Ivealizing that resistance 
was hoix'less, the Yankee prize master resorted to 
a ruse. Ui' had ])resei-ved the original Eni;iish papers 
of the (irci/lioiiiidj and when the boai'dinn!,' oflicer came 
these documents were shown to Inm, with the state- 
ment that tlie (Irci/Jioinid was an English vessel and 
had a British crew aboard. As all the Americans 
answered to the names on the shi])pinii' papers, the 
Ens^lish officer departed and tlH» (irciihound «j;ained 
port in safety. 

After taking- a few more prizes the Tcazcr, in 
December, 1812, was captured by the 71-sj,un ship of 
the line Sail Doiituujo and Avas burned, the crew bein*;' 
releas(Ml on tluMr ]»i'omise not to serve against (Jreat 
Britain again in this war until regularly exchanged. 
It seems that Johnson, without waiting to be thus ex- 
(dianged, on his return to tlu^ United States entered 
another privateer, whi(di was called Yoiiiu/ Tnizcr, 
as her first officer, her commander being AV. B. 
Dobson. Dobson was an ideal privateersman. In 
June, 1813, he appeared oif Halifax, where h<' was 
chased by the British cruiser Hir John i^lx-rhrol-c. V\\- 
fortunately for the Americans they were between 
the enemy and the harbor, so that it was im])ossible 
for them io escai)e seaward. Taking in the situa- 
tion at a glance, Dobson i)retended to be an Eng- 
lish ]»rize master in possession of an American 
scliooner. Hoisting tln^ British tlag over American 
colors, he boldly stood into Halifax harbor. The l^ir 
John Sh<fJ)r<J:c, to make sui'e that there Avas no de- 
c(^]>tion, followed the Amcn'ican until clos(^ under 
the guns of the fort. The garrison, also su])posing 
that the schoomM- was a British ])rize, did not tire, 
and the commander of the cruiser, satisfied as to 
the Yoiuifi T<(iZ(r\s pretendcMl character, ])ut io sea 
again, and in a few hours was out of sight. Un- 



1813. BLOWING UP THE YOUNG TEAZER. 447 

der cover of iiii>h( the Yoiiiif/ Tvfizcr also oot to sea 
in safely. 

Not at all abashed by his narrow escape, Dobson 
had the audacity, two days after his clever ruse, 
to send into Halifax a proclamation " dcndarins;- all 
Halifax in a stale of bIo(d<ad(%" and followed this 
'' piece of audacions imiMidence " with a (diallent;e 
to Captain ('ajx'l to fi,nht the line of battle ship Ln 
Jf(i(/ii(' "at any tini(» and place" the British com- 
mander miulit select. In this instance Captain Capel 
accej)ted the ( halleiiiic <ini(d;er than the Yankee had 
anticipated, for on July loth that shij) unexpectedly 
hove in si^iht, and ai^ain the Youikj Tvdzcr was com- 
])elled to rnn into Halifax harbor. This time, of 
course, the jiarrison in the fort knew the scdiooner, 
and I)(d>son to(d< care to keej) beyond the reach of 
their shot. He ran into a small bay ni^ar Halifax 
where tli<^ water was too shoal for Ijt Ifa(/i(v to fol- 
low, but (''a])tain ('ajxd manned his boats and sent 
one hundred and thirty men aiiainst the ])rivateer. 

l>y some means, not fully exjdained, I)(d)Son man- 
aii'ed to u'et to sea a^ain, with L<i Ildf/iic (dose after 
l:ini. After a hard run of eiiihteen honrs Dobson 
I'ealized that he was in such dan}j,(>r of capture that 
he called his oflicers in consultation. Escape was 
impossible, for the enemy's shots were whistlino,- by 
their ears viciously, and it was oidy a (|uestion of a 
few minutes when broadsides would be crashino; 
into them. While the American othcers were in con- 
sultation, Johnson, who knew that, if captured and 
recoiLiiiiztMl, he would be ]»romptly handed at the 
yardarm for dishonorinu his parole, (]uietly slipped 
away from the iirouj), and, seizium- a live coal, disa])- 
])eared in the cabin. ^ One of the seamen called 
Dobson's attention to the straniic action of his first 
officer, but before anvthin^- could b(^ done the maoa- 



' !»iiv;itr letter from I'ortliuid. daleil July 24. 181.3, to agent of tlie 
Youiuj Teazer, in New Yt)rl<. 



J^48 NEW YORK PRIVATEERS. 1812-181:5. 

ziue ^yas ignited and the ship was blown to pieces. 
Thirty of her comph'ment of thirty-seven people 
were killed. " Had he [Johnson] blown his own 
brains ont,"' says a contemporary newspaper, '' or 
tied a <>nn aronnd his neck and flnng- himself over- 
board, very few wonld have monrned, and no one 
would have fonnd fanlt, as by all acconnts he was 
not the most amiable man livini;-. Indeed, he innst 
have been possessed of the disi>osition of the devil 
to i)lnnge sncli a number of his friends into eternity 
who had parents, wives, and children to monrn their 
untimely fate and to suffer for want of protection 
and assistance." 

Dobson was one of the survivors, and it was 
scarcely two months after the disaster to the Young 
Tcazcr that he was in a shi}) that still insisted on 
haviiifi' the word " Teazer " in her name — this time 
it was YoiUKj Tca.::er\s (Uiosf. The Yoinuj l^'dzcr's fihost 
had been the British ])rivateer Lircr/xioJ Pacl-cf. This 
craft had been lonj; cruisinii off the New England 
coast, and had occasioned much damage to our com- 
merce. Her presence in these waters was especially 
obnoxious to the people of Salem, as the English- 
man made it a point to station himself off that port, 
where he captured several inward and outward 
bound sliii)s. His presence was the more exasperat- 
ing, in view of the great number of American priva- 
teers that came from SahMii, which unfortunately 
at that time were far away and could not be called 
upon to chastise the insolent strangei-. 

Finally, th(^ indignation of the Salem folk became 
so great that on the morning of November 12, 1812, 
Captain John Upton declared that he would go out 
in the merchant sch(M)ner IIClcii if sixty-nine men 
would go with him and give battle to the Britisher. 
The owners of the Helen, the IMessrs. J. J. Kna])p and 
White, patriotically loaned the craft for the occa- 
sion. The sixty-nine men were rapidly secured, and, 
forming a procession, " ]»i'eced(Ml by the American 



1813. TRAITORS. 449 

tluj;', and by Jaiiics McCai'tliy witli liis di'iiiii aii<l by 
Henry Ilnbon witli hi.s tifc, tlicy marched through 
the streets of Sah'iii, led by Captain James Fair- 
cliihl."" Tliat same ni_u,ht, at nine o'cdock, tlie Ihlcii, 
witli a few cannon iiaslily thrown aboard and with 
a small snpply of amnuiintion, was towed ont of the 
harboi-, and eai-jy 011 the followini; morninu' u'ot 
nnder way. rnfortnnately for the warlike aspira- 
tions of these volunteer sea warriors tlu^ Lirrrpool 
]*(ick(i had sailed the day before for St. John's, 
thereby frnstratin<;- the object of the enterprise. 
This, however, di<l not i)revent the valiant seventy 
from returnini;' to ])ort with all the honors of war. 

It is not unlikely that the peoph^ in the privateer 
had been wai-mMl of the jtroposed attack l)y some of 
their allies on shore. It is w(dl known that the Enii- 
lish had their " informei-s " in most of the AnuM'i- 
can s(^i])orts. One Samuel Vorke, who acted as 
pilot of the Lin r pool l*(t(kil whih^ on these <'oasts, 
was taken in custody <ui reac hinii shore and char<»ed 
with hiii'li treason. lie said in his defense, "It was 
not Enjiiishmen, but his own countrymen who had 
broujiht him to this," and state<l that the l/wrrpooJ 
l*<tcJ:(t, "as well as the i^if ■lolni NV/rr/zroAv, bidoui^ed 
in the headciuarters of ^ood priiici]>les | nn^anino- that 
they were owned by citizens <d' the United States], 
and that several boats were employcMl in li'oinu.' 
from IJoston to Liverpool and Halifax to inive in- 
formation." Shortly after this the Lircrpool Pacht 
was cajdnred and taken into the American service 
under the name of )'oini<i Tkik r's dJiost. She was not 
very successful, however, and Dobson had to seidc 
anoi her command. 



CHAPTEU XX. 

PllIVATKEKS VF/:s/'S PACKET SHIPS. 

Thekp: was one class of vessels employed by the 
British (xoveriinient in this war that furnished a 
valuable source of revenue to the owners of Ameri- 
can pi-ivateers. This was the ita<ket class. These 
vessels were selected or built esjx'cially with a view 
to s]>eed, and were employed by the enemy in carry- 
iuii iuii)ortant dispatches, but more fre(]|uently in 
trans]»ortin^- speci(\ As a rule, they carrie<l formida- 
ble armaments and were strongly manned, so that, 
if attacked, they win-e in a condition to make a nood 
hs^ht. But as the main object was to reach their 
<lestination with all possible s]>eed, they seldom took 
the initiative in an acticni, and when (dias(Ml crowded 
on all sail to escape, at the same time using' their 
stern guns to injure the enemy's sails and rigging 
rather than their hulls. If evidence were needed 
to further demonstrate tln^ sup«M'iority of the Ameri- 
can-built craft ov(M' that of the British at this 
p(n-iod, it will be found in tlu^ fact that a large num- 
ber of these l^ritish (Jovernmeut ])a(dv(4s were cap- 
tured by American private armed vessids; and, if 
evidence is needed to show that our ])rivateersmen 
were as brave as they were skillful in handling their 
shii)S, it will be lia<l in the fact that these i)ackets 
were taken usually only aft«'r the most desperate 
struggles. 

One of the first vessels of this class taken from 
th(^ British by American privateers was the packet 
450 



1812. PACKET TOWNSEND TAKEN BY THE TOM. 45] 

Toini.sciitl, from I'nliiKnit li for Unrhndocs. She was 
(•ii])tiir(Ml hy the 7'o///, of lialtiinoi-c. Soon affcr war 
was (Icclai'cd the 7'o///, ('a])taiii T. Wilson, tlicii car- 
rvin<i' foiirt<M'ii i^uns and one Inmdrcd and forty men, 
<j,(>t to sea, and abont .Inly 2(\, 1S12, f(dl in with the 
heavily armed British mer(diantman fh(i(i<iii.:<i, from 
r(»i't-an-l*rince for London, and lia\inii, on hoard fonr 
hnndred thonsand ponnds of ((dfee, besides loi;woo<l. 
The Jinnidiizd was a ship of fonr hundre<l tons and 
carried tw(dve linns. As soon as he slighted this sail 
Captain Wilson inave (base, and when within i;nn- 
shot o]»en(Ml a s])irited tire, to whicdi the lOnulishnien 
res])onded with every ix\n\ that wonld l>ear. After a 
rnnninii tinlit lastinii' tifty-tive minntes the linn/diizd 
was surrendered and sent into Baltimore, aecom- 
l>anied by t he Tom. 

iJelit tinii' in this i)ort tlie Tom a.uain pnt to sea, the 
foUowinti' notice of hei* (b'])artnre ai)]»earin,ii' in Nile's 
Keji'ister: "The ]»ilot-boat bnilt scdiooner Tom sailed 
on Sunday last |An;L;nst 2, 1S12| on a cruise. Ilin* 
burthen is two hnndred and eighty-seven tons; she 
cari-ied sixteen liuns and a brave crew of one hundred 
and forty men, admirably })rei»ar«Ml for action. Thus 
she is able to compete with the smaller national ves- 
sels of the enemy, and, we trust, to escajx' from the 
larger. The canvas she s])r(^a<ls is truly astonishing." 

Captain ^Vilson had not been on blue water lon^- 
\\ hen he fell in \\ith the i)a(d';et Toifiisciid, the latter 
beiuii armed with nine i;uus and carryinii' twenty- 
eiuht men and ]»assenu'ers. True to Ihm' character as 
a '• runninii' ship/" the Toinisind, on making out the 
American, spread all sail in an effoi-t to escape, but 
the s])eedy Tom was (piickly in (base, and aftei* a 
hard run <-ame within ;Li'unsli(»t, A\lieii a seN-ei-e strun'- 
ulebeiian. The Euiilishnien fought hei'oically,and did 
not yi(dd to the superioi- armament of the Am(M'icans 
until tlieii' commander and four seamen had been 
killed and a numbei* wounded. The ]jrivateer sus- 
tained only a tritiin^ injury in her hull and ri<ijj;ing, 



45^ PRIVATEERS VERSUS PACKET SHIPS. 1812. 

while only tAvo of hor poo]>lo were hurt. Takinii; out 
most of the vaUiabh'S in the ])acket, Captain Wilson 
released (lie shij) on the payment of six thousand dol- 
lars. At the heis2,ht of the action, M'hen the British 
saw that they must surrender, they thi'ew overboard 
all the mail ba.iis, but as they were not properly 
shotted they floated, and afterward were picked U]) 
by the ]>rivateer schooner Boiki, ('ai)taiii J. Dann^'on, 
of Baltimore, and brought into ])ort. On April 27, 
181o, the Tom was captured by the i>ritish cruiser 
Lj/ni, at which time the privateer's armament lia<l 
been reduce<l to six liuns and her comjdemeiit to 
thirty-six men and boys. In her entii'e career in this 
war the Tom took two shi])S and one brii;-. 

AnotluM- l^ritish ])acket shi]) taken by the Ameri- 
cans in the autumn of 1S12 was the bi-iu' IhircJxiU, 
havinii' on board an l^ULilish commissary aud his 
wife. This vessel was taken by the ^-iiuu schooner 
H'KjIipifrr, Captain .1. (Jrant, of Baltimore. The l/ifili- 
pifcr was one of the first ])rivate arnuMl craft to i^et 
to sea from Baltimore in this war. On July 21, 1812, 
she took the British mercdiantman Tamdicd, Cai)tain 
Wells, a shi]) of sevcMi i;iins and twenty-one men, and 
on the fidlowinc; day sln^ ca])tur(Ml the shi]) Murij 
Aim, (''a])tain 3Iiller, carrying twelve ii'uns and eiiiht- 
een men. These vess(ds Avere attackinl in <-om])any, 
the Jumaicd being cari'ied by boarding and the Mari/ 
Aim surrendering after Cai)tain (ii*ant had suc- 
ceeded in getting alongsid(\ The action with the 
JmiKiicd lasted forty minutes, in which time the 
Americans had two men womuled. On .Vugust 2Gtli 
the Ifu/liflifcr sent into Baltiiuore the sidioomn' l/ar- 
riot, from New Brovidence for Havana, mounting 
four guns. She ^^as in ballast, but had on board sev- 
eral thousand dollars in s])ecie. 

It was in this cruise that the llij/li/li/cr fell in with 
the liKn-httlU running from Barbadoes to Demerara, 
and ca])tured her. This ]trivateer was singularly 
fortunate in securing British ofhcials of high rank; 



1818. NTGIIT ATTACK ON THE HIGHFLYER. 45;> 

for, besides seizing- ;i iniinbor of the enemy's dro- 
jihers, or (-oastinji' vessels sailiiisi," in the West Indies, 
she (•a]>tnred another coniniissary and seventy-two 
men, wlio were sen) into Demerara under a i\-dti <>f 
(nice. (Jovernor Carmiehael wrote a letter to Cap- 
tain (Jrant highly complimentinn' the latter for his 
coui-tesy in thus aceommodatinii' his ])risoners. In 
February, ISl.'i, the /I if/Jifli/cr was (•a])tur(Ml by the 
74-j4nn shij) of the line PoicHcrs, the privateer having 
taken in all eight British vessels. On securing the 
Ilif/lipi/cf the British converted her into a tender, in 
charge of a lientenant and seventy-two men. On the 
night of May 24, ISl^^), the American privateer Rof/er, 
('a]»t ain K. (^)narles, of fourteen gnus and one hundred 
and twenty men, slipped ])ast the bbxdvading sqnad- 
ron at Ilam]don Roads. Several <lays before this 
the ///'///////'/■, nnder her new flag, had ca])tnred the 
'' lookout boat " lid.scj/, Captain Smith. This boat 
had b<'(Mi very nsefnl to the Americans in (dnding 
th(» l>iMtish b]o(d<ading shi]>s and getting to s(ni, so 
as to give warning and information to onr r<'tnrn- 
ing jn-iva leers. Tlie 11 'K/li/li/cr'^ people ])roinptly 
bnrned tlie lUlscji, and took her men aboard their 
S(diooner. 

At nine o*( locl< in the evening the Rixjcr got to 
sea, and soon fell in with tlie H 'K/lifli/cr. The British 
haih'd the ])rivateer, and on receiving no answer 
hailed again and thr(^atened to tire. To this the 
Americans res])onded with a broadsi<le, and immedi- 
ately the two vess(ds became engaged in a (lose and 
heavy cannonade, whi« h lasted until ll.:^>() v. M., when 
the ni<ili/l!i('r slieei-ed off. The action lia<l Ikmmi at 
such close (piartei-s that words of command in each 
shij) conid be distinctly heard by the oi)])onents. 
In the heat of the battle two of the men taken from 
the Bvlscji managed to get into a boat and made 
their esca]H' to land. On the following day the Brit- 
ish gave ('ajtlain Smith ami the remaining crew of 
the iUlsrii a boat, in which they ]-e;iched Xorfolk. 



454 PRIVATEERS VERSUIS PACKET SHIPS. 1813. 

Afterward it was learned that the enemy had suf- 
fercnl severely in this tii;ht, and had tlie Rof/cr been 
able to keep alongside the Ifif/lifli/cr the latter nn- 
donbtedlj would soon have been conipcdled to sur- 
render. As it was, the British lieutenant, the coed;, 
and four men were kille«l, while a midshipman and 
nine seamen were wonnded.^ The Rof/cr was one of 
the most snccessfnl private armed eraft sailing ont 
of Norfolk, taking in all seven vessels. One of her 
prizes was the English (rovernment pacdcet Ml)i(Isor 
Casth; armed with ten guns and having on board 
thirty-two seamen and nine passengers. The Roger 
was at sea at the (dose of the war. On vSeptember 
23, 1813, nearly four mouths after her eneounter with 
the Roj/rr, the Hif/hfli/cr, then under the command 
of Lieutenant George Hutcdiinson, was captured 
through a clever stratagem l)y the United States 
44-gun frigate Prcs-'ulcnt, Oai)tain John Kodgers." 

One of the most obstinately contested actions 
between an American privateer and a British Gov- 
ernment packet occurred in 1S13. The English 400- 
ton pack(^t ship MoniKuin, Gaptain Gunningham, 
mounting eighteen guns — l)-pounders — and manned 
by fifty men, was attacked in September of this 
year by the ju'lvateer S(inito(/(i, Gaptain Gharles W. 
Wooster. The latter had left port with sixteen guns, 
but shortly befoiM^ meeting the packet she had been 
chased by a frigate, and had been compelled to throw 
overboard twelve of her guns. The Morn'iana did 
not surrender until she had two of her men killed 
and five wounded, among the latter being her com- 
mandor, who was ba<lly hurt. The Americans had 
three nuMi kilhnl and seven wounded. In her entire 
career in this war the t^anttoga took twenty-two Brit- 
ish vess(ds. In I'^d)ruary, 1S13, she took, while off 
Caracas, a brig from England laden with drygoods. 

' Hampton Cornpilrr. 

' Soo Miiclay's History of the riiited States Navy, vol. i, p. 522. 



1812-1814. PLXCllANGING SHOTS WITH A MAN-OP-WAR. 4.55 

rhiciiiii a prize crew aboanl, Captain W'oosttT or- 
dered her to the TTnite<l States, but beiiijj^ short of 
water the ]n"ize master' put into Santa Marta, to 
h'eward of La (Jna.vra, where tlie vessel and earjj^o 
were seized by tlie Spanish officials and sold to the 
account of their (lovernment. Tlu^ i»rize crew was 
placed in irons and sent to Havana, wh(M*e they were 
compelled to work on the arsenal under tlu^ most 
cruel taskmasters. Tliev were poorly fe<l, and al- 
lowed to <i<) barefooted and almost nak(Ml. Several 
of the men were severely flo<i<;ed because tln^v re- 
fus(Hl to enter a Spanish man-of-war. 

About a month aft(M' the action between the 
^oratof/d and MortjidiKi, the armed schooner GJohr, 
Captain Richard ^Moon, of Baltimore, had a des])er- 
ate enfiaii'ement with two British i)acket shii)s. Ear- 
lier in the war Captain Moon had commanded the 
l-i»un s(dioouer SaraJi Ami, maniUMl by fifty men. The 
Sdrah Ann attacked a British merchantman of ten 
jjuns, whicli resisted until four of her people were 
wounded. The prize was sent into New Providence, 
Octob(M', 1S12. At that port six of the Americans 
were claimed as British subjects, and were sent to 
Jamaica. On Januai-y 27, 1814, tin' (Hoh^' arrived at 
\\'ilmin<iton. North Carolina, and reported an action 
with tAvo British ]>acket ships. It occurred Novem- 
ber -S, ISl.'i, while the American privateer was cruis- 
iuii' in the vicinity of Madeira. Two days before 
this Cai)tain Moon discover(Ml a sail leeward, ami 
iminediat<'ly bore away to ascertain her character. 
She proved to be a lar^e man-of-war brii,^ ami after 
exchanuinii' a few shots Cajdain Moon hauled off. 
Just befoi'e she ^"ot out of reach, howevei-, the (ilohr 
T'ec(dve(l a !l-j)onnd shot utkUm' her (piartiM', xi^vy near 
the water line \\iiicli caused a danjucrous leak. 

Sliakinii- herself (dear of the man-of-war, the (Uohe 
re])aired damai^'es and a])i)eared oil' the ]»ort of Fun- 
(dial, wliei'e two bi'iiis were (liscoxcrcd backinu^ and 
tilliiiu- awav as if about to leave the Roads. J^vi- 



4-,ifi PRIVATEERS VEBSl'S PACKET SHIPS. 1813. 

deiiTly xhvy observed the approaeh of the privateer, 
and were uiiwilliiiir to leave port until she withdrew. 
Captain ]Moon so far accoinniodated them as to make 
a feint at sailin<i- southward. This was sntttcieut 
enconra<ienient to induce the brijis to venture out, 
and Captain ]\Ioon, retraeinii' his course shortly after 
he had run the port out of siiiht, had the satisfaction 
of coniin<4' upon the briirs just as they were clearing 
land. Tie made all sail in chase, but as it soon came 
on dark and squally he lost sight of them. lie con- 
tinued the chase on a blind course, under easy sail, 
all that night, and at daylight, November 3d, he saw 
the brigs bearing away from him to the southwest, 
some six or eight miles distant. Carrying a press of 
sail for five hours and a half, the Globe came within 
gunshot of the largest brig, wliic h opened a spirited 
fire from her stern chasers. The privateer responded 
with her chase guns, but did not for a moment 
slacken her speed, as the Americans desired to get 
at (lose quarters immediately. 

In this manner a running tight was maintained 
between the two vessels, the American rapidly gain- 
ing, until half past tw(dv(\ when the Globe was fairly 
alongside and began nudging elbows with the chase. 
The word Avas then passed along to board, but un- 
fortunately the privateer fell off a little at that mo- 
ment, so that only the first and second officers and 
three seamen of the Globe gained the enemy's deck. 
Cut off from retreat, these men made a heroic fight, 
but they were set upon by the entire English crew 
and were soon killed. Tlie first otiicer's name was 
John Harrison and that of the second was John 
Smith, the names of the seamen being Joshua 
Brown, Kichard I^lair, and James Thelis. 

At this critical period of the tight the second 
English brig bore u]>, and passing across the Globe's 
bow gave her a terrible raking tire, which killed or 
wounded a number of the privateer's people, besides 
greatlv iniurinii- her sails and rigging. This broad- 



1813. A EARD-FOUGHT ACTION. 457 

side, added to the injuries the privateer already had 
received, for some time rendered her (iiiite imman- 
aj;eabh\ ('a]»tain Moon, liowever, kept his j;uiis 
going", and made every elTort to re])air liis rigging, 
lioping I0 I'enew the engagement nn<hM' more favor- 
abh' cirenmstances. 

Again getting alongside the iirst brig, he opened 
a heavy cannon and musketry tire, so that at half 
])ast three o'clock she snrrenderiMl. All this time 
the (ih)hf had ]iaid little or no attention to tlu^ sec- 
ond brig, which ha<l been tii'ing shot after shot at 
(dose range into the i)rivateer with impunity and 
doing great damage. .Vs the tirst brig had sur- 
rendered, ('a])tain .Moon was uoav able to turn his 
undivided attention U])on the otlnu' vessel, and this 
he did with all the zc^st of long-pent V(Migeance. The 
Vilobv was soon got under steerageway, and, running 
close under the enemy's (puirter, the Americans 
])oured in a destructive tire until liaif ]»ast four, 
Avhen ('ajtlaiu Moon found that his own vessel was 
in a critical condil ion. 

Seven sliot h;i(l taken effect between wind and 
water, which caused her to take in so much water as 
to endanger the safety of all. Under these circum- 
stances ('a]»tain Moon de<-i(l<'d to return to tln^ tirst 
bi-ig and take ])ossession of her, as the second brig 
seemed to be undesii-ous of continuing the battle. 
A\'hen the (iloJif a])i)roa(died the tirst brig, however, 
the Americans were snrprised to see her rehoist her 
colors ami fire a broadside. ]>oth brigs then set 
npon the ]u-i\aleer A\ith ]'eneA\'<Ml enei-gy, so that 
(\i]»tain Moon was compelled to haul off to i)revent 
his vessel from sinking. Fortunatcdy the enemy did 
not seem desirous of following u]> their advantage, 
and linding that the ]>rivateer was unable to c<m- 
tinne the chase they made sail and gradually disap- 
peai'ed beh>w (he horizon. 

The condition of the (llohc was critical in the ex- 
treme; for, besides the great (juantities of water she 



458 TRIVATEERS VL^IiSUS PACKET SHIPS. 1813. 

was taking in, the greater part of her standing and 
rnuniug rigging were shot away, and not a sail was 
left that had not been fiddled with shot. A large 
nnniber of her ottieers and men also had been killed 
t>r wounded. For some hours after this battle the 
survivors bent all their energies to keeping their 
craft afloat and mending the rigging. Having done 
this, the schooner slowly made her way to the Grand 
Canary Island for i)ermanent repairs. 

Down t(^ this time (''ai)tain Moon was ignorant 
of the names, force, or (diaracter of his antagonists, 
excepting that during the time hc^ was chasing the 
largest brig he observed that her people were throw- 
ing various articles overboard, some of which floated, 
and when the (llohc came up to them they were seen 
to be mail bags. From this circumstance he was 
led to believe that they were packet vessels. This 
belief was confirmed when he arrived at the Canary 
Islands, where he learned, rid Santa Cruz, TenerilTe, 
that a British pacdcet brig carrying eighteen guns 
and another mounting fourteen had recently arrived 
at that place. They reported that a few days before 
they had a severe engagement with an American 
privateer and succeeded in beating her off, but only 
after great losses to themselves, having twenty- 
seven men killed or wounded, besides suffering seri- 
ous injuries in their hulls and rigging. The (rlohc, 
Ix-sides those already mentioned, had Seamen Oliver, 
Samuel D. Smith, and Sandy Forbes killed, making 
eight in all killed, and the following men wounded: 
Captain Moon, Prize-Blasters Noah Allen and John 
Frinck; Seamen Asa Hart, Ab. Kinhart, Fortune, 
Job F. Wheeler, P. Short, F. Statt, T. Jifford, J. 
Arnold, J. Reatly, John Wilson, John Mitchell, and 
Daniel Milton. On this cruise the Glohc carried her 
l(»ng torn — probably an IS- or 24-poiinder — and eight 
12-i)0under carronades. Her complement of offi- 
cers, seamen, and marines numbered ninety. After 
the action Captain Moon found a double-headed shot 



1814. THE HARPY AND PRIXCESS ELIZABETH. 459 

sticking- in the f^ide of his ship which weighed twelve 
pounds.^ 

^>o many British vessels of tliis class were taken 
by American cruisers and i)rivateers in the early 
part of the war, and so S(-rioiis were the losses and 
inconveniences resulting from these captures, that 
extraordinary precautions were taken to protect the 
packet ships. Their time of sailing was purposely 
made irregular, and, so far as possible, the exact 
date was kept secret. In some cases war ships ac- 
companied the packet, while, finally, ships of the line 
and heavy frigates were called upon to perform this 
service. But even these extreme measures did not 
prevent our enterprising privateers from continuing 
their mischievous work of capturing this class of 
craft. 

In September, 1S14, the privateer Ifdrpi/, Captain 
William Nichols, of Baltimore, fell in with the Brit- 
ish packet I'riiicrs.s FAlzdhdh and compelled her to 
surrender. The English had three men killed and 
several wounded, while the Americans had one man 
killed. The packet was armed with eight 12-pound- 
ers and two long brass 9-pounders and was manned 
by a crew of thirty-eight men. The Ilarpn carried 
fourteen heavy guns and about one hundred men. 
The prize had on board as passengers the Turkish 
ambassador to England, an English army officer, 
an aide to a British general, and the second lieuten- 
ant of a 74-gun ship of the line. Taking out of the 
pacdcet ten thousand dollars in specie, five pipes of 
^ladeira wine, the two brass 9-pounders, and two of 
the 12-pounders, Captain Nichols threw overboard 
the remaining guns, and allowed the Princess Eliza- 
lii'th to proceed on her voyage, after paying a ransom 
of two thousand dollars. 

In the following month the Tfarpf/ sailed from 
Portsmouth, New IIami»shire, and returned to that 

' For other services of the Globe in this war, see pp. 430-433. 



460 PRIVATEERS V£Ii\SrS PACKP:T ships. 1814-181.-). 

place, after a criiise of only tweiil y days, with sixty 
prisoners, having' captured the Britisli trausports 
Biahjcs and Aiiiazoii, from London for Halifax, the 
first vessel carryiiiii' six <inns and the second six 
iiuns with eighteen men. Both craft were laden 
with provisions for the British army in America, 
the Bii(I(/( -s having a cargo of rnm, brandy, beef, p'ork, 
flonr, and bread. Tliey belongcnl to a tieet that had 
sailed from Bortsmonth, England. Among the pris- 
oners were two majors and several other otficers. It 
was estimated that the valne of the j^rizes taken by 
the Jlarpji in this cruise was at least half a million 
d(dlars. The last crnise made by the Harpij in 
this war was even more remarkable. She remained 
at sea eighty-five days, arriving at Salem, April, 1815, 
with her hold crowded with valnable articles cap- 
tnred in the Bay of Biscay and on the coasts of Eng- 
land, I'ortngal. and S])aiii. The following list will 
show the variety and exciting nature of her adven- 
tnres: "One hnndred and eighty-eight boxes and 
trunks, and one hnndred and sixteen hogsheads and 
<-asks of drygoods, j«nvelry, ]date, women's rich 
dresses, navy trimmings, fine clothing, etc. Three 
linndre<l and thirty boxes fresh ^lalaga raisins, sixty- 
six frails fresh Turkey figs, one hnndred and fifty- 
eight ]>ieces of British manufactured goods, twenty- 
nine bolts of canvas, a (piantity of cordage, ten pipes 
of sherry wine, three barrels of gnnpowder, carron- 
ades, mnskets, pistols, cutlasses, sails, signal flags, 
lamps and ]>aint oil, white and ])at(mt sheet lead, 
nautical instrnments, cnt and other glass, medicines, 
and upward of one hundred thousand pounds sterling 
in British treasury notes and bills of exchange.'' 

The following testimonial was written by one of 
Captain Nichols' prisoners: "•Captain William Drys- 
dale, late of the ship WiJlidin <iii<J A]fn<U captured 
January 2, 1815, by the brig Ifarpii, returns his grate- 
ful acdvnowledgmeut to William Nichols, Esq., com- 
mander of the said brig, and all his officers for their 



1815. nUMAXlTY OF THE AMERICANS. 40 1 

great civility, iiidiilgoiit lenity, and lumiane usage 
while on board, and generously delivering up all his 
]>rivate property. And slnnild, at any future time, 
Cnptain Nichols or any of his otticers come to Lon- 
don, Captain Drysdale will be happy to see them at 
his house. Stepney Grc^'U, near London. Given under 
my hand, on board the Ilarpi/ at sea, this day, Janu- 
ary (i, 1815." 

This testimonial was supplemented as follows: 
''We, the undersigned, feeling congenial sentiments 
with Captain Drysdale toward Captain Nichols, Lieu- 
tenant Place, and the officers on board the Harpi/, 
and desirous that smdi humanity and goodness may 
be made public, as w(dl in the United States as in 
England, de(dar(^ tliat our treatment is wortliy of 
every praise and encomium, and that all our private 
property has been held sacred to us and a cartel 
fitted for us as early as circumstances would permit. 
George Harrison, W. Newell, J. W. Hall, Andrew 
^IcCarthy, late masters of vessels taken by the 
IUd-j)!/.'" 

The Winiiuii (111(1 AJfr((1 was laden with drygoods 
and ]»lantati()n utiMisils, and was bound for Antigua. 
Captain Nichols divested her of her drygoods, and, 
placing her in charge of a prize crew, ordered her 
to the T'nited States. The ship Jane, from Lomlon 
for Antigua, was taken by the Harp!/. She was 
laden with i)rovisions for the GovernnuMit. .Vfter 
taking out a portion of her cargo and (h^stroying tiie 
remainder. Captain Nichols ]daced his prisoners in 
her, and ordered her to a British port as a cartel. An- 
other prize of the Ildrpi/ was the ship (hirhind, with 
a full cargo of rum and sugar. She arrived safely at 
Salem. « 



CHAPTEK XXI. 

BATTLES WITH THE KIX(J*S SUITS. 

A REMARKABLE featui'e of the maritime War of 
1812-1815 was tlie number of instances in which our 
privateers liave and received blows from the rej^n- 
lar war ships of the British Government. Xotable 
cases, sn<di as the repulse of the English boats in 
Fayal and the disastrous defeat of the Eii(]i/mio)r>^ 
men in their attacdv on the Pr'ntce dc Xeiirlidfcl, have 
been detailed in separate (diapters, bnt those actions 
are far from completing the list. On September 8, 
1812, the American privateer Dilii/oit, Captain Gras- 
sin, of Philadelphia, fell in with the British lO-gun 
cruiser Ldiira, Lieutenant Charles Newton Hunter. 
The Laura had taken three American mendiantmen, 
and was in the act of seizing the fourth, when, at 
three o*( lock in the afternoon, she was discovered 
by the DWuient. The Englishman carried ten 18- 
pounder carronades and two short 9-pounders, and 
had, according to their accounts, a complement of 
forty-one men. The DH'Kjcitt was a s(dio()ner mount- 
ing ten short guns. 

As soon as the privatecn* was made out to be a 
ship of force. Lieutenant Hunter recalled his boat 
from the merchantman and made sail for the /)///- 
<)vnt. I'^rom some men captured in his third prize the 
British commanc^'r had learned that the DiVujcui was 
in the vicinity and was informed as to her force. At 
8.55 r. M. the vessels had come within pistol shot, 
when the Laura oi)ened with her guns, to which the 

463 



1812-1813. BATTLE BETWEEN DILIGENT AND LAURA. 4f)3 

Americans respoiKled with a broadside. Five min- 
utes later the two yess(ds were fairly side by side, 
and, while the Americans endeayored to manenyer 
for a better position, the British attempted to frus- 
trate the effort by taking the Ayiud out of their op- 
ponent's sails. At 4.30 r. m. the DiH</ciit set her 
course and tried to tark, upon which the Laurd put 
her helm down with the same object in yiew; but 
in the failin|Li- wind both vessels missed stays, and 
in payin*;- off they swuni;- round and enjiaged in 
a fierce yardarm-and-yardarm fight. At 4.45 p. m. 
the Laura, haying liad her peak halyards shot 
away, f(dl off the wind a little and forerea<died 
the ])riyateer, grazing her ])()rt (juarter. t>oou 
afterward the DUif/ciif, dropping astern and catch- 
ing the breeze, and being the best sailer of the 
two, drew up on the Aveather <]uarter of the 
Lain-a. 

Down to this time, owing to the fact that the 
men in both vessels were engaged in maneuvering, 
their fire had not been very effective. The privateer 
now seized the opportunity to take the wind out of 
the Laura's sails, and running her bowsprit over the 
starboard taff'rail of the p]nglishman, with her. jib 
boom between the to]>ping lifts and through the 
mainsail, made fast. The Americans then used their 
small arms with great effect, and made attempts to 
board, which at 4.55 P. M. Avere successful, and soon 
they had comi»lete ])ossession of the vessid. The 
English loss was fifteen killed and severely wounded, 
including Lieutenant Hunter and ^lidshipman John 
O. Griffith. The Dil'u/nit had nine killed and ten 
wounded. '' (''a])tain (irassin," savs an English his- 
torian, " carritnl his ]>rize to Philadelphia, and be- 
haved to Lieutenant Hunter in the most honorable 
and attentive manner. Lieutenant Hunter was 
landed and taken to tlu^ hospital." Afterward the 
Laura was fitted out as a 12-gun privateer and re- 
named llie If(h(. In A])ril, 1813, while under the 



464 BATTLES WITH THE KING'S SHIPS. 181B. 

coniDiand of Cai»t;iiii J. IMcarreiH', she was captured 
by a British S(iiia<h'<»ii. 

Ill l*\'briiai'y, ISlo, tlio Aiuericaii in'ivateer Lo/- 
Icfjl, ('ai)taiii J<dni Soutliconib, left Baltimore for 
Bordeaux. Wliile staiuliiiin' down the Chesapeake, 
at nine o'clock on the morniiii;' of the 8th, she 
was discovered bv the British S(|nadron at anchor 
in l.vnnhavcn Bay, which consist<'d of the 3(1 -irnn 
frii;ate MuUlstoH(\ Cajdain (Jeoriie F>nrdett; the 3(>- 
<;nii frij^ate Bclridcni, Captain Bi(diard Byron; the 
38-iinn frigate^ Jiiiioii, Captain James Sanders; and 
the 3S-i;iiii friji'ate i^hilini, Captain Ilassard 8tack- 
p(»l(\ As so<ni as the in'ivatccr was made out 
(ho liritish sent nine boats, carrying;- two hundred 
men, with orders to attack the American. The 
boats wore commanded by Lieutenant Kelly Xazer. 
Obscrviiii;' the a]>])roa(h of the enemy, Captain 
Sonthcomb made all sail to esca])o, for his vesscd 
carried only six 12-])oiiiidcr carronades and twenty- 
eight men. In a few hours, however, the Lottcri/ 
was becalmed, and about one o'cbxdc in th<^ after- 
no(»n the British boats came within gunshot, when 
the Americans o])ened smh a w(dl-dir(M-t(Ml tirc^ 
that tlu^ a<lvance of thc^ leading craft was (diockcd. 
AVaiting for the (dher boats, the British got together 
and made a dash at the jn-ivateer, and, notwithstand- 
ing a galling tire, succeeded in gaining her decdc, 
where the few Americans were soon <>verpower<Ml. 
Captain Sonthcomb made a snperb <lefens(\ not snr- 
rcMidering until he was mortally hurt and (dghteen 
of his twenty-eight men w(M'e killed or woniided. The 
British had one man killed and liv(^ wounded. 

S]>eaking of Soiithcomb's heroism, an English 
historian says: ''This was a very gallant resistance 
on the part of the Loifcr//, and Cai)tain Sonthcomb, 
nntil he died, was treated with the greatest atten- 
tion by Captain Byron, on board whose frigate. he 
had been bronght. Captain Byron then sent the 
body of the Jjottvrifs late commander on shore, with 



1813. CAREER OP THE DOLPHIN. 4(55 

every mark of respect due to the iiKMiiory of a brave 
officer, and lie afterward rcM-eived a letter of thanks 
from Captain Charles Stewart, of the American frig- 
ate CoiistcllaHoii, at anchor in James Kiver lead- 
injn- to Norfolk, watchinj;- an o})i»ortnnity to put to 
sea." The Loftcri/ measured two hundred and twen- 
ty-hve tons, and althoni;!! <-arryini;- only six guns 
was pier<-ed for sixteen. She was taken into the 
]>ritisli navy un<ler the name Caiiso. 

In the following April, 1813, four American priva- 
teers, one of them Ixung the famous DoljtJt'ui, (d" Balti- 
more, were "caught on land" by a P>ritish bhxdvading 
squadron. Tlu^ Dolpirui, Captain W. S. Stafford, had 
l»ut to sea early in the war, and nia<l<' directly for the 
coasts of Poi'tugal and Spain. Cruising some time 
off' Cape St. A'incent, the scene of some of England's 
greatest naval battles, with no succ(^ss, Cai)tain 
Stafford had lU'arly made u]) his mind to (diange his 
cruising gi-ound, when, on F(4n'uary 25, 1813, while 
in sight of the Ca]H', a sail was descried from the 
DoJpliiir.s masthead and chase was given to it. Soon 
afterward another sail, smaller and a])])arently a 
consort, Mas rei)()rted. The speedy privateer qui(dc- 
ly overhauled the strangei-s, whi<di wei'e seen to be 
heavily armed mercdiantmen, and a severe action 
took place. In a short tinu^ both vessels were sur- 
rendered, the larger (»ne proving i<> be the ship lIvJic 
(by some accounts the rJoliii IlmiiUlou], carrying six- 
teen guns and twenty-five uhmi, and the smaller ves- 
sel, the brig Three lifoIlK rs, with ten guns and twen- 
ty-five men. Caj)tain AV. A. Brigham, of th(^ JfeJx., 
was badly wounded early in the acti(tn by a musket 
shot, and soon afterward he was sevendy burned by 
an ex])losion of powder. The JfolpJiiii carried ten 
guns and a crew of sixty men, of whom only four 
were hurt. 

Ca|>tain Stafford placed ])rize crews in these ves- 
sels, with orders to make for the United States. The 
Ilehe was recaptured, but the Tliree Brothers reached 



406 BATTLES WITH THE KING'S SHIPS. 1813. 

New York. ]><>tli vessels were lioiiieward bound 
from Malta, and weri^ laden Avitli valuable cargoes. 
rai)tain Brii;liani expressed nmcli snr]»rise at nieet- 
inj;- an American war craft in that i>art of the world, 

and said: '' I did not exi)ect to find a d d Yankee 

privateer in that ])lace." I'nt Stafford assnre<l him 
that similar cai)tnres mi^i;ht soon be made in the 
Thames. The l^ritish officers, wlnh^ aboard the Dol- 
pliiii, were handsonudy treated, and on hov arrival in 
Baltimore, l"\d)rnarv 15th, ]>ri_iiham i)nblished the 
following- " card ": " W. A. Brijiham, lately captured 
in the British mer<diant ship IIrJ)<\ lately nnder his 
command, by the Ignited States i)rivateer Dolphin, 
Captain AV. S. Stafford, after a severe contest, bef>s 
to make jniblic and ^ratefnlly a(dvnowle<l<;'es the 
sense he has of the very kind and hnman(* treat- 
ment he and his crew ex])crienced on board the 
Dolphin dnrini;- the i)assai;(' to this port. All wear- 
ing apparel and ])rivate ])ro])erty were «»iven np to 
the prisoners and the wounded (eight in number) 
most diligently and tenderly attended. A\'. A. 
Brigham being badly wounded, experienced a very 
great share of this attention from J)r. Chidester, the 
surgeon, which, together witli the t(Mider sympathy 
of goodness of Captain Stafford, added nnudi to his 
recovery and hai)piness. Should the fortune^ of war 
(n'er throw Captain Stafford or any of his crew into 
tlu^ hands of the British it is sincerely hoped he will 
UHM't a similar treatment, lialtimore, l^d)ruary 1(>, 
ISl.'i." This generous wish of Captain I>righam was 
soon to be grant(Ml. 

On April .3, 1813, Sir John Warren, having his flag 
aboard th(^ 74-gun shi]> of the line S<in DoiiiiiKjo, Cap- 
tain Charles (Jill, with the M<irlhoroii(/]i, bearing 
Bear -Admiral Cocdvburn's tiag, Ca])tain Charles 
liayne Hodgson Boss, accompanied by tlu^ frigates 
Mtiidsloiic and ^hitini and the brig-sl()o])s Fdiitoiiic 
and Mo]i(iirl\ ajqx'ared <»ff the mouth of th<^ Bappa- 
hanno( k, where four American pi-ivatcM^rs happened 



1813. STAFFORD'S GALLANT DEFENSE. ^CT 

to be. Tliev Avere the scliooner Aral), of Baltimore, 
Captain I). Fitch, carrvini^- seven oims and a crew 
of forty-five men; tlie IjI/ii-j; Captain E. Taylor, of six 
j>nns and forty men; the Racer, Captain D, Chaytor, 
of six o'lms and thirt^'-six men; and the Dolphin, Cap- 
tain W. S. Stafford, carryint;' twelve ouns and one 
hundred men, then starting' out for another cruise. 

As soon as these vessels were made out from the 
enemy's mastheads, the British sent seventeen boats, 
with a large force of men under the command of Lien- 
tenant James r(dkinL:,horn(% against them. Unfortn- 
nat(dy for the privat<'ers it was calm at the time, 
and as their vessels were too far apart to be within 
siip])orting distance of eacdi other the liritish were 
able to attacd-: tliem separatcdy. They selected the 
A fill) as being farther down stn^am and made a dash 
for her. This boat was not surren<lered, howevt'r, 
without a desperate struggle, in whi(di both sides 
sustained the heaviest losses of the day. The Brit- 
ish then made for the Lj/ti.r, whose people, observing 
the fate of the Anth, and seeing that resistance was 
hopeless, hauled down their colors at the first sum- 
mons. Some resistance was made in the Rarer, but 
that vessel also was carried after a short struggle. 
There now remained only the Dolphin, on wliic h craft 
the enemy turned the guns of their ])riz('S. For two 
hours Captain Stafford responded gallantly, but in 
the final boat attacdv he was compelled to surrender. 
In this affair the British admit a htss of two killc<l 
and eleven wounded, including Lieutenant Polking- 
horne. According to American reports the enemy 
had fifty killed or wounded, while Stafford ])]a<'es his 
losses at six killed and tt'u wound(Ml. 

I'\)r the part he took in this spirited aft'air Polk- 
inghorne was ])romoted to the rank of commander, 
wliih^ the Dolphin, the h* a (■(>■, and Li/n.r were taken 
into the liritish service, tlie last two und(n' the 
names l>iJielhoiifiie and M Hs<iiiefohife. The SJielhoiinie 
was with the British rJG-gun frigate Orpheufi in 1814 



4(;S F.ATTLES WITH THE KING'S SHIPS. 1813. 

when she (•ai)tur('(l tlic new AiiK^rican IS-onii sloop 
of war Frolic. In consideration of his kind treat- 
ment of Eni^lislnuen wlio had falU^i into his liands 
earlier in the war, Captain Stafford was cordially 
received by Sir John ^^'al•ren, and in a few days was 
released and sent to Baltimore. ('a])tain Georiie 
Cooiieshall, of the Ann^-ican i)rivateer l)((vUJ Poricr, 
who was intimat(dy accpiainted with Stafford, de- 
scribes him as follows: " I always fonml liini a 
modest, nnassuminii', gentlemanly man. No one can 
for a moment donbt liis nntliiu hini; bravery and gal- 
lant bearing when he reflects on the many battles 
he has gained over the enemies of his conntry.'' The 
Dolphin, while nnder the command of Cajdain Staf- 
ford, had taken in all eleven liritisli vess(ds, (tne of 
them carrying fifteen guns and another tw(dv(\ One 
(d" these ])rizes was burned at sea and ancdher 
was recajdnrc^d, whih' the others — inidnding the 
S(di(»oner /V///////, valued at eighteen thonsand dollars 
— were bronglit safely int(> ]M)rt. On November 27, 
ISlo, Oai)tain Stafford, while in command of an- 
(dlier ]>riva1e(M', was attacked wliiU' (d'f Charleston 
l)y live boats from a British brig of Avar. One of the 
boats \\as lorn to ]>ieces by the privateer's fire, while 
tlie others were compelled to ridrcnit, after having 
sustained heavy losses. The brig gave the Ameri- 
cans a futile broadside and liien drew away.^ 

1 There were five ot her Aiiiericiui vessels engaged in ] iri vateering bearing 
the name Bulphin. One of them, carrying five guns and twenty-eiglit men, 
under the oommand ol Captain J. Endieott, of Salem, was one of the first 
to get to sea, and in a. eruise ot a few weeks captured tlu'ee sliips, seven 
brigs, and six seliooners. One of tlie shij)s was armed with fourteen guns 
and anotlier with twelve. One of the jirizes was released, another recap- 
tured. The DuIpJthi lierself was captured by a Britisli cruiser, August 12, 
1S12. Another Dolphin, Captain II. Lelar, of P]nladeli)hia, was a ship car- 
rying twelve guns and fifty-six men. Slie was not very successful, being 
taken at sea by the English Colosstis, January 5, 1813. Dolphin No. 4 
was a two-gun scliooner, credited with forty-eiglit men. Her career was 
cut short, xVugust 13, 1812, off Cape Sa))le by the British sloop of war 
Colibri. Dolphin No. 5 was a one-gun schooner, carrying twenty men. 



1813. AN "IMPUDENT" CAPTURE. 401) 

A maritime enterprise of a singularly darino- na- 
ture was undertaken ajuninst the kind's slii]>s off 
Sandy Hook, where a liritish blockadini;- s(Hiadron 
had long been stationed. Some of llicse vessels 
had become extriMuely obnoxious to coast tra<h^rs. 
One of the vessels that esiKM-ially aroused the ire of 
the Americans was tlie slooj* E<t(ih\ a tender to the 
British 74-gun shij) of the line Poict'ui-x, the same 
that captured the Ignited States sloop of war Wdsp 
just after her memorable victory over tlie l-'roHc. 
The 1-J(i(jlv had been cruising oft' the Hook, and had 
made herself so offensive to the Amei'icans that they 
determined to capture her at any cost. On duly 5, 
ISl'^, a fishing smack, called the y^/y/Arr, was bor- 
I'owed of some fishermen at Fly ^larket, and thirty 
or forty volunteers, under the command of Sailing- 
Master Percival, all well armed, were concealed in 
her cabin and in the fore peak. A calf, a goose, and 
a sliee]) were pur(dias(Ml and placed on deck in full 
view of any i)ursuing ship. Thus equiit]>ed the 
Y<iiiJ:((' stood out to sea as if on a tishing tri]) to the 
I>anks, three men dressed in fishermen's a])]»arel 
and wearing butf caps being the only jx'rsons visible 
on deck. 

Scarcely had the Y(nil:ir cleared Sandy TTook 
Avhen the officious lUnjlc espied her and immediately 
began a chase. Of <-ours{> tlie three innocent-look- 
ing hshermen obeyed the first summons to heave to, 
and running alongside the English officers ])erceive<I 
that there was live stock on board — an articde great- 
ly in demand by these peopl(% who had been kee]>ing 
the sea months at a tinn^ on dreary blockade duty, 
having nothing but salt provisions to eat. The 
Americans wer<- fullv alive to this weakness of their 



under Captain A. Johnson, of jMassaclinsetts. She seems to have accom- 
plished little, and was caj)tnred hv a British cruiser, r)ei'einV)er 4, 1814. 
Dolphin No. 6 also was of Massachusetts. She was a mere boat, under 
the order of Captain P. Moore. 



470 BATTLES WITH THE KING'S SHIPS. 1813-1812. 

cousins' api)etites, and bad purposely left the live 
stock conspicuously in view. The commander of the 
Edf/lc ordered the Yankee to <:>o down to the British 
flaj^ship, some live miles distant, thinking that the 
live stock wouhl be a trcnit to the senior officer of 
the S(piadron. Just as the order had been i;'iven, the 
watchword '' Lawrence ■' was i)assed, and up rose the 
concealed men and fired at the astounded enemy. 
The English W(n*e driven precij>itately below decks, 
and did not stop even to haul down their colors. 

Observinji- that the Edijle's decdcs were cleared, 
Sailin<j,-Master Tercival ordered his men to cease 
tiring-, upon whi(di (»ne of the Englishmen came out 
of the hold and hauled down the colors. The Ameri- 
cans then took possession of their ]»rize and carried 
her to the Battery, Avhere the prisoners were landed, 
amid the (duM'rs of thousands of people. The 
EcKjle mounted a f>2-])ounder brass howitzer, which 
was loaded witli canister, but so complete was the 
surprise that the enemy did not have time to dis- 
(diarge it. The Ea(/Je was commanded by ^Master's 
]Mate II. ]Morris, of the Poictiers, who was killed. ]\Iid- 
shipman W. l*rice and eleven seamen completed her 
complement. Mr. Brice was mortally wounded and 
one of the seamen was killed. 

On December 0, 1812, the i)rivateer brig Moiit- 
i/outeri/, Cajdain Upton, of Boston, made a gallant 
defense against the English brig of war Huriixini, in 
the vicinity (d' the port bearing that name. The 
^"^iiriiKiiH carried eighteen 32-pounders and two long 
9-]>ounders, while the Monffiomo-i/ mounted only ten 
0-l»ounders and two long 12-})ound(M's. The war brig 
gave chase to the privateer, but in the half hour she 
was within gunshot the Americans manag(Ml to ])hint 
a solid shot in the l^iiriiKiurs foremast, which so weak- 
ened the spar that the English were glad to haul off 
and ])(M'mit the ])rivateer to escape. On the 5th of 
the f(dlowing ^lay the Mfjiifuoiiieri/, while returning 
from the English Channel, was captured by the Brit- 



1814. UNDER A CRUISER'S GUNS. 471 

isli frigate Xi/iupJir. In her entire career the Moiit- 
(jomvnj took six vessels. 

Another instance of an American privateer get- 
ting unpleasantly close to a Ih-itish man-of-war was 
that of the schooner Cniinpus, Captain John Mur- 
phy, of Baltimore. On June 18, 1814, the (h-ainpu.^, 
in company with the privateer Pdtap.sco, of Balti- 
more, and the Dash, of Boston, was chased off Boston 
Harbor by the Tl-gnn ship of the line La lla(/iie, Cap- 
tain Captd.^ The huge ship of the line promptly 
began a furious chase, but by clever seamanship all 
the privateers escaped. It is reported on good au- 
thority that Captain Capel Avas so chagrined over 
this that he snatched the epaulets from his shoul- 
ders and threw them to the de(dc. 

^Making for the Canary Islands aftcn- this escape, 
Captain ^Iuri»hy cruised in that vicinity some time 
with little or no success, taking only the brig ^^pccii- 
lator, from Lanzarote for London. She proved to be 
an old and conii>aratively worthless craft, and Cap- 
tain Muri)hy returned her to her people. Not long- 
after this a sail was descried from the (J rant pus, to 
whi( h chase was given. It was soon discovered that 
slie was a heavily armed merchantman, or, at the 
most, a letter of mar(]ue — so the Americans thought. 
Acting on this belief Captain Murphy hastened to 
clos<\ and when near enough he called on the 
Englishmen to surrend(n'; but by way of answer 
the stranger triced up a long row of covers, ran out 
ten or eleven black muzzles and belched forth a 
broadside that told, ])lainly (Miough, that it was not 
a mer(diantnuin or h^ter of marque speaking, but 
a full-fledged sloop of war. This broadside killed one 
man and wounded several others, besides occasion- 
ing considerable damage to the privateer's sails and 



' For Captiun Capel's connection with the forgery of Sir Philip B. V. 
Brooke's official report of the Chesapeali-e-Shannon fight, see Maclay's 
History of the United States Navy, vol. i, jip. xxv-xxvii. 



4:--2 BATTLES WITH THE KIXG"S SHIPS. 1814 

riii'iiiDii'. As soon as The astonisheil Americans re- 
eovered from Their snvprise They made every exer- 
Tion TO aeT away from Their quarrelsome neighbor. 
AMTh eohn'S sTill tiyinu' CapTain ]Mnrphy jiradnally 
drew away frum The shxtp of war. and Tinally niach' 
his escape. In This affair CapTain >Inri)hy and ono of 
his men were morTally wounded. The (Irainpiis made 
eiiiliT prizfs in This war. 

One of The hisT enua^uemeiiTs beTween American 
privaTeers and The king's ships Took phice July 12, 
1S14. in The Euiilish Channel. The T-unu schooner 
privaTeer Sin-in, CapTain J. D. Daniels, of BalTimore. 
puT TO sea in The sprinn' of 1814. and made for BriT- 
ish waTci-s. On July 12Th she fell in wiTh The cuT- 
Ter Lniidr((U, LieuTenanT IJoberT Daniel LancasTer. 
mouuTinii' four shorT 12-pounders and manned by 
TweuTy men — ThirTy-Tliree according To American 
accouuTs. The Sunn had abouT lifTy men aboard aT 
This Time. As The LdmlraU had imporTanT dispaTches 
aboard. LieuTenanT LancasTer made all sail To avoid 
a baTtle. The swifT American, however, gradually 
overhauled him. and a running figliT. lasTing one hoiTr 
and Ten minuTes. resulTed. AT The end of TliaT Time 
The Siimi had come To (dose quarTers, and for forTy 
minuTes longer a d<^s]>(-raTe tigliT was made on boTli 
sides, when The Englishmen surremhn-ed. having 
seven of Their number wounded. RriTish accouuTs 
])lace The casualTies in The Si/n ii aT Three killed an<l 
tifTeen wounded. CapTain Daniels placed a prize 
crew aboard The Ijiiidrd'iL wiTh oTliers To make an 
American x^oi't. buT before gaining a jdace of safeTy 
she was recapTured and senT inTo Halifax. BeTurn- 
ing To The FuiTed STaTes, The Si/rni, while off The 
Delaware. November 1(5. L'^ll. was (diased by The 
English blockading ships, and was compelled To run 
ashore, where her people escaped afTer desTroying 
Their vessel. The Si/n it had made six prizes in This 
war. 



rilAPTEK XXII. 

PRIVATEERS OE BALTIMORE. 

In point of numbers Baltimore took the lead in 
sending out privateers in The War of lsl2, Boston 
being credited with thirty-five. Salem with forty, 
Xew York with fifty-five to Baltimore's fifty-eight. 
The exploits of many Baltimore privateers have 
been set forth in other chapters. Some of the re- 
maining craft fitted out in this port by private enter- 
prise rendered services of great importance. 

Among the first to get to sea were the schooner 
Rcveuijc, of fourteen guns, and the RoUa, of five guns, 
the former commanded by Captain K. ^Miller and the 
latter by Captain E. W. Dewley, or J. Dooley. The 
Rrveuf/e had the good fortune to recapture a prize 
taken by the famous privateer Grurrdl Annstronn, of 
New York. This was the brig Liioji (uuJ AUdd, having 
a desirable cargo of drygoods aboard. Soon after 
the brig had been taken by the Genera} ArtnstroiKf 
she was recaptured by the English letter of marque 
Bre)if())), of Liverpool. She was again captured by 
the Revenfje, and this time arrived safely at Norfolk. 
Some of the other prizes made by this privateer were 
the ship Betseji, bound for Clasgow and sent into 
Wilmington, North Carolina: the ship Maiilii, mount- 
ing four guns, laden with wine. oil. etc, from the 
West Indies for Halifax, which was sent into 
Charleston; the schooner Fa)i)iii. from Trinidad, 
laden with sugar, also sent into Charleston: and the 
schooner Marji Ann, whi(di was released, and the pris- 
33 473 



474 PRIVATEF.RS OF BALTIMORE. ISIS-ISH. 

oners plaied aboard with orders to make for the 
nearest Enirli^^'h port. The Rcrcntjv also eaptnred and 
destroyed at sea, in Jnly. 1814, the briix ^ilcna and the 
sloop Friendship after seven thonsand dollars" AA'orth 
of dryjioods had been taken from her. 

The Ixolla was even more snnessfnl that the Ixc- 
i-cn<]<\ havinii" made, in ime crnise. seven prizes, carry- 
iiiiX in all rifty-eight i-annen and one hundred and 
tifty men. The raruoes were invoired at over two 
million dollars. These valuable prizes were all made 
in a ft'W days. IV'cember 12 15. 18li!. near Madeira, 
and. althouiih some of the vessels were heavily armed 
and made resistam-e, no loss was sustained by the 
Americans. They belonued to a irreat tleet that had 
sailed from Cork with a powerftil convoy. The most 
satisfactory feature of these raptures was the fact 
that soon after the lialla left port she euc-otintered 
a terrific- ♦rale, in which Captain Dewlc\v. in order to 
keep his vessel from fonnderiuii-. was compelltHi to 
throw overboard all but one of his iruus. After the 
gale was over there scn^med uothing to cio but to 
make the best of their way back to port, but the 
crew of sixty men entreated Captain Dewley to con- 
tinue the cruise, and the result was that the Rolla 
made one of tht^ richest "* hauls " in the war. Be- 
sides these more important seizures the Rolln burned 
the Schooner Siriff, of Plymouth (England i. from St. 
Mic-hael. and sent into New Orleans the brig (jcneraJ 
Pnvost, from Halifax for Demerara. The 7*';//(7 was 
captured. Decembt-r 10. ISlo. off Long Island by the 
British frigate I.oiir. after one i»f the privateer's 
masts had bc^en shot away. 

Two other Baltimore private armed vessels that 
made important captures early in the war were the 
Sarah Ann. Captain Kichard ^[oou. and the schooner 
E.rpniifion. Captain ^lurray. The former had a sharp 
action with the heavily armed merchant ship EJiza- 
h'th. from Jamaica for England. The Englishman 
carric-d ten 12-pounders. and was ladc-u with three 



18ia-1814. THE "RE-RECAPTURED" SIRO. 475 

hundred and twentv-tbree hogsheads and some 
tierces and barrels of sugar, besides a quantity of 
coffee and ginger. The EVizahcth did not surrender 
until four of her crew had been wounded. The 
Americans had two men hurt. In October, 1812, the 
^arah Aiui was captured, and was carried into Xew 
Providence. 

The first prize taken by the Exprdltion was the 
first class schooner Loji'i^a, of two hundred and two 
tons, carrying one gun, with a crew of twenty-six men. 
She was a first-rate vessel, from St. Vincent bound 
for St. John's, and had on board one hundred hogs- 
heads of rum and thirty barrels of sugar. She was 
sent into Newport, and the bounty allowed on the 
vessel, cargo, and prisoners by the Government 
amounted to about four thousand dollars. The E.r- 
pfditioii also recaptured the American schooner Ade- 
I'uic. This vessel had sailed from Bordeaux with 
dispatches for the American Government and a mail 
of over four thousand letters. When four days out 
she was captured, after a hard chase, by a British 
frigate, in which all the dispatches and letters had 
been thrown overboard. Six days later the Adeline 
was retaken by the E.rprdition and sent into New 
York. 

The 12-gun schooner Siro, Captain D. Gray, was 
one of the *' re-recaptured "* vessels of this war. In 
the fall of 1812, the ^iro, while making a run from 
France to the United States, captured the 10-gun 
ship Loj/al >^(i)ii, with twenty-three thousand five hun- 
dred dollars in specie aboard, and carried her into 
Portland. Getting to sea again the Siro appeared 
off the Irish coast, and on January 13, 1813, was 
captured by the English brig of war PrJimii and sent 
into Plymouth. The English refitted their prize and 
sent her out under the name AfJaitfa. On September 
21, 1814, the Athnita was taken by the United States 
sloop of war TTV/.v/>. 

The >^(ih'ute and the Bdlthiiore were two privateers 



476 PRIVATEERS OP BALTIMORE. 1813. 

about which little is known — or, at least, few prizes 
are credited to them. The former, Captain J. Barnes, 
while on her way to France, captured and destroyed 
a brig from Lisbon, while the lattin', Captain E. 
Veasey, is credited Avith two jn'izes — the brig Point- 
^harcf^, of St. John's, and the schooner Dorcas;^ which 
was relieved of her cargo of drygoods and released. 

The 5-gnn schooner Sparroir, Captain J. Burch, 
was captured by the enemy, and recaptured under 
singular circumstances. Captain Burch's first prize 
was the schooner Meadow, out of which he took the 
most available articles and then released her. His 
second prize was the schooner Farmer, of Nassau, 
which also was released, the British master highly 
complimenting Captain Burch for his liberal conduct, 
declaring that he would not even receive some poul- 
try without paying for it. On November 30, 1S13, the 
Sparrcjir, while making a run from New Orleans to 
New York, with a cargo of sugar and lead, was chased 
ashore near Long Branch by the British 74-gun ship 
of the line Plautaf/euet and taken possession of by one 
hundred men. A detachment of the United States 
flotilla stationed at New York, under the command 
of Captain Lewis, inarched against the enemy, drove 
them from the stranded vessel, and took possession 
of her in spite of a heavy fire of grape from the 
PJaiifa</e)iet. The whole cargo, together with the 
sails, rigging, etc., M'as saved, and the A'essel bilged. 

The crew of the sloop Liherti/, Captain Pratt, had 
the satisfaction of enjoying some delicacies intended 
for the British admiral on the American station, 
John Borlaise Warren. The Liherti/ mounted one 
gun, and was manned by forty men. She captured 
the schooner Iliizzali, which had on board a number of 
turtle for the British naval officers on the station. 
The J/ihert}/ also captured the sidiooner Doreafi, carry- 
ing two guns and thirty men, from Jamaica, hav- 
ing on board sixty thousand dollars' worth of dry- 
goods. The Liherti/ is credited with six prizes in this 



1813-1814. "HARDY MUST BE A XOBLE FELLOW/' 477 

war. The little privateer Was^p, Captain Taylor, 
made three prizes. 

The Fo.r, Captain Jaek, after taking eight British 
vessels, was chased one hundred miles by an Eng- 
lish squadron and raptured. A letter dated New 
London, :\ray 18, 1813, says: "The inspector of New 
London, on Friday evening last, took charge of a 
flag with the prisoners taken in the Fox and returned 
on Saturday. lie was treated by Commodore Hardy 
[the British naval commander in these waters] with 
every attention; waited on by him and the first lieu- 
tenant to every part of the ship, even to the berths 
of the officers. The commodore expressed to the in- 
spector a total disapprobation and abhorrence of 
their conduct at the southward in burning defense- 
less towns and villages; and understanding, by the 
officers who went from New London, that some 
families were in mourning from these [atrocities] he 
begged him to assure the ladies that they may rely 
on his honor that not a shot should be fired at any 
dwelling — at least while he had command — unless 
he should receive very positive orders for that pur- 
pose, which he had not the most distant idea would 
be received. He hoped soon to have the pleasure 
of making Xew London a visit, not as an enemy, but 
as a friend. On the whole, Hardy must be a noble 
fellow." 

The Pdfapsr-o, the DrliJa, the Fair//, and the Turl-a- 
hoe were four Baltimore privateers that were fairly 
successful. The first. Captain Mortimer, made three 
prizes. The schooner DcUIa, on her passage from 
Bordeaux to New Orleans, took a ship filled with dry- 
goods, but the privateer had sent away so many of her 
crew in prizes that she could not spare a prize crew 
for her latest capture. The Fdir//, Captain P. Dicken- 
son, burned the sloop Arfive, and sent into port a 
schooner having a valuable cargo of drygoods and 
provisions. The Tuclcahoc, in 1811, on her way to 
France, burned at sea the schooner ^V« Flower, and 



478 PRIVATEERS OP BALTIMORE. 1814-1815. 

after captnriiiu' the scliooner Jhizard, from Nassau 
for San Domingo, and taking- wliat was available, 
gave her np to her people. The Tuclxdhoe also took an- 
other English ship and sent her into port. While on 
the east end of Long Island the TiickaJioc fell in with 
the British blockading squadron, and was chased for 
several days. She eluded tlie enemy, and in March, 
1814, got into Boston, having been chased several 
times by British war ships. 

The privateer Yorl\ Captain E. Staples, began her 
caiHH^r undcn' inauspicious circumstances. On April 
18, 1814, while off Nova Scotia, she had a severe en- 
gagement with the British transport J.ord ^ninrrs. 
After Captain Staples and five of his men had been 
killed and twelve were wounded, the York hauled 
off. Soon afterward she fell in with the schooner 
DU'kjciicc, from Halifax for St. John's, and burned 
h(-r. In July or August, 1814, she took the brig 
Bctsci/, with fish, from Newfoundland for Barbadoes, 
and sent her into Boston. 

The York returned to Boston in September, 1814, 
after a cruise of thirteen weeks, without having lost 
a man. She had spent most of her time on the coast 
of Brazil, and the value of her prizes aggregated one 
million five hundred thousand dollars. The York's 
last cruise in the war, however, was very unsuccess- 
ful. She returned to Boston, April, 1815, having 
taken only one vessel, and that one had been prompt- 
ly reca])tnre(l by the enemy. Throughout the cruise 
she had experienc(Ml a series of heavy gales and 
four of her crew ha<I been carried ovcM'board and 
lost, together with several guns and anchors. 

The little G-gun privateer Pvrri/, Captain Cole- 
man, sent into the Delaware a schctoiicr laden with 
rum, cocoa, etc. In 1814 the 7'rrr// made a cruise of 
ninety <lays in which she took twenty-two vessels, 
of which eight(^en were destroyed at sea and four 
Avere sent into port. The Perrji also captured, after 
a severe action, the British gunboat BaUahou, Lieu- 



1814-1815. THE XEBEC ULTOR. 479 

tenant Norfolk Kin«", monntinci: four 12-ponnders and 
haviniij a (•oni])loni('nt of thirty men. On enterinii; 
the port of Wilmington the I'dlhtlioit was chased 
ashore by a British brii;- of war and destroyed. 

Almost as snccessfnl as the rni\i/ was the S-oim 
seliooner M'uhts, ('a])tain Thom])Son. Her first seiz- 
ure Avas the S(di()oner I'rdiicis, taken April, 1S14, 
whi( h was bnrncMl off the r'ren(di coast, with a carjio 
of bullocks intended for the British army. She also 
took the scdiooner A itjxillodorc, witli four hundre<l 
and tifty boxes (d' fruit, and suidc lier. The Mi<l(is, in 
tlie course of the wai', nuule fourteen j)rizes, one of 
them beiuLi' the r^uiilish ])rivateer Dash, of five onus 
and forty men. Towai-d the (lose of the war Presi- 
dent Madison revoked tlie Midas' commission. 

The i)ri\ateers Dtlislr, l/v/o, and DuuihhhI did not 
become so well km>wn. The first, J. Taylor, nuule 
three ])rizes; the second, Caittain 1*. Kider, in Septem- 
ber, 1S14, took the brii;- Marii (iiid JJli.zd, from Halifax, 
in hnuber, and ordered her to port, but she Avas 
cliased ashore near Barneiiat and destroyed. The 
D'kiiikiikI, Captain W. Davidson, in 1815 took the briu; 
L(H(I WcHiiHitoii, from Halifax for Havana, but she 
was r(deased, in d(d"erence to the wishes of some 
Spaniards who were aboard as pass(Mi^'ers. 

The lirst ])rize taken by the xebec / 7/or, rai)tain 
INFathews, was a brii;- called the IxoJxrt, laden with 
fish and lumber, from St. Jidin's for Jamaica, which 
was sent into Charleston. Her S(M-oiid ])rize, taken 
in April, 1S14, was the briii' ^iriff, carrying' four n'uns 
and tifteen men, from Halifax, with an assorted 
carji'o, which also was sent into ])ort. AVhile in Lonj;' 
Islaml Sound, July, 1814, the xebec (llor was at- 
tacked by two Enii'lish boats, but the Americans 
made such iiood use of their tirearms that one boat 
was beaten off and the <dher, with ei<iht men in it, 
was ca]>tui'ed. The commander of this boat was 
killed, and was bui'ied in New r.ondon, wluM'e the 
xebe<- CJIor touched in order to dispose of her pris- 



480 PRIVATEERS OF BALTIMORE. 1814-1815. 

oners. In the course of the war the xebec Ultor made 
fifteen prizes. 

The J*ike and the Lawrence, bearinf>' two historic 
names, ".^ot to sea toward the (dose of the war and 
were eminently successful. The former, Captain H. 
Bolton, in JMay, 1814, captured the schooner Hope, 
the S(diooner PiclrrvJ, from Dartmouth, England, for 
Quebec, and th(^ ship Mciiiui'uJ, besides twenty other 
vessels. One of her prizes, the brij;' John, of London, 
for Teneriffe, was taken and burned within long- 
shot of an English brig of war that vainly endeav- 
ored to come up with the audacious Americans. The 
Pllxe, about September, 1814, was (based ashore on 
the Southern coast and seized by British boats. A 
part of her crew escaped, but forty-three were made 
prisoners. In her cruise the P'llxC released on parole 
two hundred and fifty men. One of her prizes, the 
ship l^aiiiiicl C II null ill (/.s, of four hundred tons, laden 
with sugar and coffee, was wrecked on the Southern 
coast. 

The 0-gun schooner Lairrrncf, Captain E. Yeasey, 
arrived at New York, January 25, 1815, and reported 
having taken thirteen English vessels, eight of which 
had been manned and ordered to port. She had 
made one hundred and six prisoners, but only fifteen 
were brought in. One of her prizes, taken November 
11, 1814, was the brig Eiif/lc, and was ordered to the 
United States under Prize-lMaster John Snow. On 
December 7th, while the E(i<ih' was making for a 
home port, two Frenchmen — John Secar and Peter 
(Jrandjack — and a negro named ^Manuel, who were 
among the prisoners, conspired with the former com- 
mander of the E(i<ih\ and attempted to recover their 
vessel. Secar stabbed the man at the helm, and, fol- 
lowing him below, killed him, together with Prize- 
JNIaster Snow and one of his men. The prisoners 
managed to get the hat(di covers on, and so confined 
the remaining Americans below. One of the prize 
crew, John Hooper, was in the cabin when the attack 



1815. CAREER OP THE AMELIA. 481 

Mas fii'st made and received a bad knife wound in 
Lis band. He was then lashed to tlie deck and kept- 
there three days without drink or food. On the 
third day after the recapture of the AV/r//r, the snr- 
yivinii" Americans succeeded in forcing' the hatch 
coyers and trained the deck. They soon oyerpowercMl 
the two I'renclimen, wliih' the neuro jum]»ed over- 
board, culhiss in hand. On Jauuary 27, 1815, as the 
E(i(/Jc was api)r(»achin_i;' Xew York, she was captured 
by the liritish friiiate Sahirii. Soon aft(n' this the 
Euijlv was lost by shii)wreck. Early in her cruise 
the Liurrvucc fell in with the St. Thomas merchant 
fleet, and, boldly dashini;' anioni;' them, Captain 
Veasey cai)tured and manne<l eii^lit larnc vessels, and 
actually beat off a brij;;' of war before she could in- 
tercept the ])rizes. Several prizes were made by the 
])rivateers I'/'/xr, Captain T. N. Williams, and itc.vo- 
Julhni. 

Of tlu' ]u*iva(eers of Baltimoi'e the r>-i;'un schooner 
AiiicUd, Oaplain A. Adams, Avas ab(>ve the avera<;e 
in the number and value of her captures. She ar- 
rived in New York after her first cruise with eii;hty 
])ris(»iiers, haviui;- taken one thousand four hundre<l 
tons of sliip])in.«i-, valued at one million dollars. In 
lier second cruise the AiiicHa captured two thousand 
two hundred and seventy tons of shippinj;' and 
made one hundi-ed and twelve ])risoners. She ar- 
rived at Philadelphia in April, 1815. At one time 
she ]>ut into L'Orient, where she was well received by 
the I'rench authorities, but while on her liouR^vard 
passable sli<' touched at St. Barts for water. The 
governor would not permit her to take in supplies, 
and ord<'red her to leave i)ort at once. The A)iicJin, 
althouiih fre(|uently chased, always escaped throu^jh 
her sujtcrioi' sailing- <|ualities and the fine seaman- 
ship of her officers. 

The Ildii-isoii, the Si/rcii, and th(^ 1' ///'i/ fully sus- 
tained the re])ulation of the American ])rivateers- 
inen. The first, a schooner commanded by Captain 



482 PRIVATEERS OF BALTIMORE. 1814-1815. 

II. Perry, had a battle with a British sloop of war, 
whose commander was killed. The Harrison arrived 
safely at Savannah, Augnst, 1814. In her second 
venture, made in 1815, she took a brijj^ which was 
ransomed and a schooner which was sailing under 
Si)anish colors, but carrying British goods. After 
taking out the cargo the Ifarrisoii released the 
schooner. This privateer is credited with six iirizes, 
one of them being valued at one hundred thousand 
dollars. 

The 7-gun schooner i^i/rni, Captain J. D. Daniels, 
seized two shii)S on the English coast and destroyed 
them. She also took, in December, 1811, the brig 
^ir John ^hcrhrolxC, mounting twelve guns, from Hali- 
fax for Alicant, with lish and oil. This vessel was 
manned, but she was chased ashore on Bockaway 
Beach by the English blockading squadron off New 
York, and burned by her prize crew to prevent her 
falling into the hands of the enemy. The l>^i/rcii her- 
self, while returning from a cruise, was chased off 
Sandy Hook by the enemy's blockading force. She 
tlien endeavored to make the Delaware, but on No- 
vcMuber 1(1, 1814, she was run ashore by the pilot. 
AA'hile in this position she was attacked by three 
barges from an English razee. For two hours the 
Americans held the enemy in check, when, finding 
that it was hopcdess to continue the struggle, they 
set fire to the vessel and escaped to the Jersey shore 
Avith their six prisoners. At the time the ^i/roi was 
attacked she had only twenty of her original 
crew. One of her prizes, the ship Emiihtthni, put 
into the Western Isles and was abandoned by her 
crew.^ 

The 117/ (f/, an 8-gun schooner, under Captain T. 
Venice, made thirteen prizes. She arrived in New 
York, September or October, 1814, with twenty-three 
])risoners. A number of her prisoners had been sent 

• For action between tlie Syren ami tlie king's cutter, see page 473. 



1814. PRIZES OP THE WHIG. 483 

to England in the sloop E^ierprlxe, one of her j^rizes, 
from Guernsey for jMadeira, laden with drygoods 
and flour. Her prizes, the brigs Bruiisirick and Race 
Jforse and the schooner Briiiuuiui, were burned 
at sea. 



CHAPTEK XXIII. 

(iUY R. CllAMPLIX. 

Few American vesseLs have liad such a distin- 
g;iiished career as tlie privateer schooner (hntcral 
AniislroiH/, of New York, titted ont, in part, by tlie 
shi])i»ini:,' tirni of Jenkins cK: Havens. Tliis vessel, 
named for .T(din Armstronii', in 1813 tlie Secretary of 
War, was always fortunate in liaviuii' an able com- 
mander. She was first bronuht i)rominently before 
the i)ublic by an action she sustained with a heavy 
En<>lisli war shii) off Surinam lliver. On March 11, 
1813, this vessel, then comnunuled by ('a])tain (Juy 1\. 
Champlin, was cruisini;- in five fathoms of water some 
thirty miles east of the mouth of the Surinam River. 
The weather was cloudy, but the wind Avas li^ht and 
enabled her to stand (doser in shore than usual. At 
seven o\do<dv in the mornini!,' Captain Champlin, 
while standinii' on a tac k to the southeast, discov- 
ered a sail bearinjj;' south-southeast, and half an 
hour later he (d)served that she was at anchor under 
the land. 

About 8 A. M. the stranjier seemed to have dis- 
covered the (U')ieral AniixfroiHi, for at 8.30 A. Ai. she 
got under way and stood to the north, firinii; three 
shots at the privateer and showing;' En<ilish colors. 
At 9.10 A. M. the (ivnrral Ariusfroii;/ hoisted the Stars 
and Stripes and dis(diar_ii(Ml her Ion*;- tom. It was 
apparent, however, that the stranger was far too 
heavy a vessel for the privateer to attacdv, so Captain 
Champlin edged away, ready to lead a long chase 

484 



1813. DECOYED. 485 

if the stranger seemed disposed to pursue. At 9.50 
A. M. the straiif^er taclced and stood as near the 
Americans as the wind would permit, keepinj;- up a 
brisk fire from her chase guns. Down to this time 
Captain Champlin was umler the impression tliat 
he was dealing with a heavy war shij), but by 10.15 
A. M. the vessels were near emmgli for the Ameri- 
cans to get a ju'etty good view of the stranger. The 
oi)inioii was prevalent in the (jcticral Aniistroiif/ that 
the stranger was a British privateer, and, yielding 
to the desire of his otticors. Captain Champlin bore 
down to engag(% ho])ing that she might be laden with 
a valuable cargo. At 10.30 a. m. he put his helm up, 
and, having every gun carefully loaded, came rapidly 
down on the strangor, intending to board in the smoke 
of his broadsides. As soon as within easy range Cap- 
tain Chamidin ]>oured in his starboard broadside, and, 
wearing shij), <lelivered his port fire also; but when 
he endeavored to run alongside the manouver was 
frustrated by the enemy keeping off and continu- 
ing the action within musket shot. 

Now, for the first time the stranger revealiMl her 
real strength. lN>rt cover after poi-t cover along 
lier dark sides were triced up in rai)id succession, 
until the Americans found themselves facing four- 
teen guns on her main deck, six on the quarter-deck, 
and four on tlie forecastle. It was too late to think 
of running away, for in a twinkling the black muz- 
zles began to belch away, carrying death and dt^- 
struction into the privateer. I'or ten minutes the 
(icHCfal Anitsfroii<i lay like a log on tlu^ water, while 
the stranger, having her starboard tacks aboard, 
managed to keep in range and ])ourcd in a ra]»id fire. 

The Americans k(q)t to tludr guns manfully, an<l 
continued to hammer away at their huge antagonist 
with every gun that bore. l''ortunately Yankee gun- 
nery was su]>erior to that of the enemy, as it was 
shown to have been in so many instances in this 
war, which in some degree made up for the great 



4S6 GUY R. CHAMPLIX. 1813. 

disparity of forces. At the first disi-liarp;e the Eng- 
lishmau's fore-topsail tie and mizzeii gaff halyards 
were shot away, which brought her colors down. 
Her niizzeu and bark stays also were carried away. 
For a moment it was thought in the dciivral Arm- 
stviiuij that the enemy had surrendered, but this hope 
was quickly dispelled by the English renewing their 
fire and showing their colors again. For some time 
after this the Englishmen seemed to have lost con- 
trol of their craft, but they finally got under way 
and ojieiied viciously from their starboard battery 
and maintop, evidently thoroughly exasperated at 
the rough treatment they had received from the 
audaci<»us American and determined to sink her 
alongside. 

For forty-five minutes the (Icurfdl A)iii'<fron(j re- 
mained within pistol shot of the Englishman, main- 
taining the unequal confiict in the hope that some 
accident would befall her adversary or some lucky 
shot would turn the tide in her favor. During this 
]>eriod of the battle Captain Champlin spent most of 
his time by the long tom, knowing that his main 
dependence was on this gun. So near were the ves- 
sels at times that he fired one of his pistols at the 
enemy with effect, and was about to discharge an- 
other when he was wounded in his left shoulder by 
a musket ball from the Englishman's maintop. The 
wound was a painful and dangerous one, but the 
heroic man, affecting indifference, coolly walked aft 
and had the hurt attended to by the surgeon. There 
is a limit, however, to human endurance, and, faint 
with loss of blood. Captain Champlin was persuaded 
to retire for a moment into his cabin. 

There, while lying on the floor, his hand still 
nervously clutching a loaded pist(d, he overheard 
some of his men talking about surrender. The words 
seemed to give him new life, and he exclaimed to the 
surgeon : 

'' Tell those fellows that if anv one of them dares 



^ 1 






^r^ 



'vt\K-^^ 












-a 




m 

< 






*^x. 



•»«<^ 



'\ 









-i\ 



1813. A DESPERATE STRUGGLE. 487 

to strike the colors I will imiiHMliatcly tiiv into the 
magazine and blow tbeni all to hell." 

The captain's cabin was directly over the maga- 
zine, and every man in the shi]) knew enongh of 
Champlin's character to believe that he meant every 
word of his threat and all thoughts of hanling down 
the colors were abandoned. 

When the enemy's gall' halyards were shot away 
and his colors down, the Americans lost an admir- 
able chance to dcdiver an effective blow. They let 
slip the oi)portnnity, sn])i)osing that the enemy had 
snrrendered. Had it not been for this Captain 
('hanii»lin conld have raked the deck of the English- 
men fore and aft with his long toni, which was 
loaded with a double (diarge of round and grape 
ready for tiring, as the muzzle of the gun was within 
half pistol shot of the enemy's cabin windows. By 
this time it was seen that the p]nglislimen had suf- 
fered heavily from the privateer's tire, for they re- 
plied only at intervals and with poor aim. The Amer- 
icans then luffed to windward and forereaidied their 
antagonist, and by the use of what sails they had left, 
in making short tacks to windward, and by the use 
of sweeps, they gradually drew out of gunshot. 

In this spirited affair the Americans had six men 
killed and sixteen wounded. All the halyards and 
headsails had been shot away, the foremast and 
bows])rit were cut one quarter through, all the fore 
and main shrouds excepting one were carried away, 
both mainstays and running rigging werc^ cut to 
]tieces, and a great number of shot had passed 
through the sails and the hull, some of them be- 
tween wind and water, whi(di caused her to leak s(> 
much that detaidiments of men were constantly re- 
quired at the ])um]>. As soon as possible^ Captain 
Cham]din got the foresheet aft and set his jib and 
topgallant sail. During the time the privateer was 
within reach the English kept up a well-directed 
tire from one or two guns aimed at the American's 



488 GUY R. CilAMPLIN. 181:5. 

foremast and fore gaff, but fortunately without 
effect. 

After running tlie enemy out of sight Captain 
Champlin made for a liome port, arriving at Charles- 
ton, South Carolina, on April 4tli. At a meeting of 
the stockholders (»f the (tCHcriil Arni.stroiif/, held in 
Tammany Hall, April 14, 1813, at which Thomas 
Farmer presided and Thomas Jenkins was secretary, 
Captain Chami)lin, his officers and men, were formal- 
ly thanked for their gallant defense of the ship 
and a sword was given to Cai)tain Champlin. 

The (Icticral Aniistroiig was remarkable both for 
the value of the prizes she took and for the obstinacy 
of several of her engagements Avith heavily' armed 
vessels. At the beginning of her career she had a 
desperate battle with an English ship carrying 
twentA'-two guns and an unusually large crew. The 
battle took place at the mouth of the Demerara 
Kiver and lasted thirty-tive minutes, at the end of 
which time she compelled the enemy to run ashore. 
On another occasion she had a severe engagement 
with the English ship Queen, carrying sixteen guns 
and a complement of forty men. The Queen was from 
Liverpool bound for Surinam, with a cargo invoiced 
at about ninety thousand pounds. Iler people made 
a brave resistance, and did not surrender until their 
commander, the first officer, and nine of the crew 
had been killed. This, perhaps, was as valuable a 
prize as was made in the war. A prize crew was 
placed aboard, with instructions to make for the 
United States, but unfortunately, when nearing the 
coast, the Queen was Avrecked off Nantucket. An- 
other prize of the deneral Annsfj-oiu/ was the brig 
Luei/ and Alida, with a valuable cargo. She was re- 
captured by th(* British ])rivateer lirenton, and taken 
again by the })rivateer Jierenf/e, of Norfolk.^ 

' other prizes taken l)y tliis famous privateer were tlie 6-crnn brie; 
Union, from Guernsey for Grenada, in ballast, whieh was sent into Old 



1814. A CLEVER STRATAGEM. 489 

On several occasions later in the war Captain 
Champlin showed himself to be a commander of no 
ordinary ability. On December 15, 1814, while in 
command of the privateer Warrior, cruising near 
Fayal, he made out an English frigate lying at 
anchor in the harbor just as he was about to enter. 
Well knowing that the English could not be de- 
])ended upon to respect the rights of neutral ports, 
Captain Champlin promptly made sail to escape. 
This was about eight o'clock in the morning. The 
frigate's people discovered the privateer about the 
same time, and, slipping their cables, spread canvas 
in chase. The frigate proved to be a remarkably fast 
sailer, and in the run before the wind gained steadily 
on the American. After a chase of some forty or 
fifty miles, in a strong breeze and in sipially weather, 
the enemy had got within gunshot, and as there were 
several hours of daylight left the Americans saw no 
lioi)e of avoiding capture unless by resorting to some 
stratagem. 

It was not long before the English opened with 
their cliase guns, and the second and third shots told 
tlijit they were unusually good marksmen for the 
IJritish of that day. Captain Champlin now luffed to 
and showed his starl)oard battery, which maneuver, 
as he intended, was taken by the enemy as an indi- 
cation of his willingness to fight. The enemy there- 
u])on shortened sail and prepared to give battle in 

Town; the brio: Tartar, ladon with one hundred and sixty hogsheads of 
rum, which was ordered into Georjjetown, South Carolina, but unfortu- 
nately she was chased by a British war bripr and was wrecked on the bar, 
although her crew and cargo were saved ; a brig from the Leeward Islands 
for Guernsey, carrying six guns, with a full cargo of West India produce, 
which was scTit into Martha's Vineyard; the brig Harrief, sent into Port(j 
Rico (being short of water), where she was seized by tlie Spanish officials 
ami given up to the British; a schooner captured at sea and burned; the 
brig rhmhe, from Ireland for IMadeira, laden with butter and potatoes and 
scuttled; and the ii[oo\^ Re sohi I Ion, from Jersey for Lisbon, laden with 
linen, paper, etc., and converted into a cartel after the most valuable 
portion of her cargo had been taken out of her. 
34 



490 GUY R. CHAMPLIN. 1814-1815. 

due form. Instead of accepting the challenoe, how- 
ever, Captain Champlin threw overboard all his lee 
guns, with shot and other heavy articles. All these 
things were put over the port side so that the enemy 
could not discover what was going on, the starboard 
side of the Warrior being presented to the foe. As 
soon as his ship was relieved of these weights Cap- 
tain Champlin suddenly made all sail and managed 
to keep just beyond the reach of the frigate's bow 
chasers until night, when he had little difficulty in 
giving the enemy the slip. 

The Warrior was a beautiful brig of four hundred 
and thirty tons, built on the model of a pilot boat. 
She mounted twenty-one guns and carried a comple- 
ment of one hundred and fifty men. On another 
occasion she was chased by a ship of the line, from 
which she received several shots, but finally escaped 
without material injury. Before returning to port 
this privateer captured the brig Hope, from Glasgow 
for Buenos Ayres, which was relieved of a large 
quantity of her cargo of English goods, and sent to 
the United States in charge of a prize crew; the ship 
Frauds and Eliza, carrying ten guns and thirty-five 
men, from London for New South Wales, having on 
board one hundred and twenty-four male and female 
convicts, and after taking out of her sundry articles 
she w^as allowed to proceed on her course; the ship 
Ncptioic, from Liverpool for Baliia, carrying .eight 
guns and fifteen men; the brig Dundee, from London 
for Bahia, with three hundred and twenty-three 
bales of English goods and fifteen thousand dollars 
in specie, which was manned for New York. A three- 
masted schooner captured by the Warrior was lost 
on New Inlet bar. North Carolina. In her last cruise 
the Warrior frequently was chased by the enemy, 
and at one time was so closely pursued by an Eng- 
lish 74-gun ship that several shots came aboard. 



CHAPTEK XXIV. 

BATTLE OF FAYAL. 

Winox ('ai)t;iin (Miniu]»liii ^ave up the command 
of tlio ])i'ivateer (ivuvnil Arut.stroiKj, as narrated in the 
pi-cccdini'' chapti^', lie was succeeded by Captain 
Saunicl Chester Keid, wlio liad been in cliarge of the 
275-1 on schooner Bo.nr, cari'ving six guns and thirtv- 
tive men. It does not appear that the lio.icr had 
made any prizes. Ou tlie evening of September 9, 
1S14, Captain Keid, availing himself of the cover of 
night, got under way iu the (Uneral Annstromj and 
passed Sandy Hook in an effort to evade the block- 
ading squadron and to get to sea. About midnight 
tlie dark outlines of a heavy war ship loomed up 
i)ff the privateer's bow, and shortly afterward an- 
other vessel, larger than the first, was reported by 
the vigilant lookouts. These vessels were soon made 
out to be a razee and a ship of the line, and as there 
could be no <]uestion of their belonging to Captain 
John Hayes" blcxd^ading force the Americans hastily 
made preparations for a hard chase. The English 
discovered the privateer almost as soon as they were 
made out from the (ivnvnd Arnif^troug and instantly 
went about in pursuit. Captain Reid quickly got all 
the canvas on the brig she could carry, and soon the 
three vess(ds were bowling eastward over a choppy 
sea at a lively rate. The privateer continued to in- 
crease her lead on her pursuers, and by noon of the 
following day they gave up the hopeless chase and 
returned to their station off Sandy Hook. 

491 



492 BATTLE OF PAYAL. ISU-ISIH. 

Early on the following morning-, September lOtli, 
the lookouts reported another sail, to which chase 
was promptly given. The stranger, which soon was 
made out to be a schooner, apparently was anxious 
to avoid a meeting, and when the General AriiistroiKj 
had come within gunshot she was seen to be re- 
lieving herself of heavy articdes so as to increase her 
speed. Notwithstanding these extreme measures, 
the (rCHcnd AnnstroiKj, after an exciting chase of nine 
hours, held the schooner under her guns. On inquiry 
she was found to be the G-gun privateer Perri/, Cap- 
tain John Coleman, of Baltimore, and had sailed from 
Philadelphia only six days before on a general cruise. 
It seems that the Pcrri/ had scarcely cleared land 
when chase was given to her by the enemy, and the 
little privateer had escaped only by throwing over- 
board all of her guns. This mishap, however, did 
not end the Porifs usefulness. After her meeting 
with the Genera] Arinstront/ she returned to port, 
secured a new battery, and under the command of 
Captain 11. INEcDonald made a highly successful 
cruise, taking in all two brigs, four schooners, and 
sixteen sloops. Eighteen of her prizes, made in the 
West Indies, were relieved of the most valuable por- 
tions of their cargoes and were destroyed, while an 
other prize was given up to the prisoners. 

It was the good fortune of the Perry in this 
cruise to render material service to the navy. It 
will be remembered that the 44-gun frigate Consti- 
tution., Captain Charles Stewart, sailed from Boston, 
December 17, 1811, on her most eventful cruise. She 
made directly for the coasts of Spain and Portugal. 
The British squadron that had been ordered to keep 
the dreaded Constitution in Boston, when it heard 
that this frigate had again given them the slip, im- 
mediately began a blind chase across the Atlantic 
after her. On January 4, 1815, while off the Western 
Isles, they fell in with a brig that had been taken 
by the Perry, which was then in charge of a prize 



1814-1815. REID'S AUDACITY. 493 

master. This shrewd man quickly (liseovered the 
true character of the British vessels, but pretend- 
iuf"- to tak(» them for a part of ('a])taiii Stewart's 
"■ scjuadroii "- — that commander, in fact, having only 
the (Vjnsfihifii)ii for his '' squadron," though soon 
afl(M'ward he captured two English war vessels, 
which answered the purposes — he misled the Eng- 
lisliiuen to such an extent that, when they accidental- 
ly cauie upon Old /roiisidrs in Port I'raya, March 10th, 
they failed to cai)ture her.^ 

The day after her experience with the Pcrri/, the 
(IriK'nil . 1 i-msiroii;/ sighted a British brig of war. Cap- 
taiu Keid, in his olTicial report, briefly notes the oc- 
cui-rence as follows: "On the following day fell in 
with an enemy's gun brig; exchanged a few shots 
with and left him." - The audacity of the American 
]H'ivateersman in thus deliberately venturing within 
reach of a cruiser's guns, and after exchanging a 
f(nv tantalizing shots leaving her, is well shown in 
the too modest report of Captain Eeid. Boarding 
a Spanish brig and schooner and a Portuguese ship 
l)ound for Havana, on the 24th, Captain Reid dropped 
anchor in I'ayal lioads on the afternoon of the 2Gth 
for the ])urpose of obtaining "water and fresh pro- 
visions. 

Anxious to *X(H to sea early on the following morn- 
ing. Captain Beid called on the American consul, 
John B. Dabney, shortly after anchoring, with a view 
of hastening the needed su])]>lies. The consul did 
everything in his power to assist the Americans, and 
at five o'clock in the afternoon went aboard the 
(IciicrdJ Anihslroiifi with some other gentlemen. Cap- 
tain Beid took tins opportunity to ask after the 
whereabouts of British cruisers in this quarter 
of the globe, and was informed that not one Brit- 



' For the details of this extraordinary comedy of nautieal errors, see 
Maelay's History of the Xavy. vol. i, pp. 632-639. 
^ Official report of Captain Reid. 



494 



BATTLE OF FAYAL. 



1814. 




isb war ship had visited these islands in several 
weeks. 

Just as night was beginning to fall and the group 
of Americans was still on the privateer's quarter- 
deck discussing these matters, a war brig siiddenlj'^ 
hove in sight, close under the northeast head of 

the harbor, Avithin gunshot. 
Preparations were hastily be- 
gun to get under way, with 
the idea of dashing past the 
probable enemy and leading 
him a long chase to sea; but 
finding that there was only a 
little wind wliere the priva- 
teer was, and that the brig 
had the advantage of a good 
breeze, Captain lieid changed 
liis plans. Inquiring of Mr. 
* Dabney if the British could 
^ JV^laJL) ^^' trusted to observe the neu- 
trality of the port, Captain 
Keid was told that he would not be molested while 
at anchor. Kelying on this assurance Captain Reid 
remained where he was. 

It was not long before a pilot was seen to board 
the war brig, from whom the English learned the 
character of the vessel in port, and they promptly 
hauled close in and anchored within pistol shot of 
her. About the same time a ship of the line and 
another frigate hove in sight near the headland, to 
whom the war brig instantly made signals, and for 
some time there was a rajnd interchange of the 
code. These vessels were the British 74-gun ship 
of th(^ line Phnif(i(/fiift, Ca])tain Bobert Lloyd; the 
3S-gun frigate Rota, Captain Philip Romerville; and 
the IS-gun war brig CartKifioii, Cai^tain George Ben- 
tham, a part of the fleet having on boar^l the ill-fated 
New Orleans expedition. The result of the signal- 
ing between the British ships was that the Carnation 



c) e>vAA>oo.3-j'-— > 



1814. THE BKITISH ADVANCE TO ATTACK. 495 

proceeded to i;et out all her boats aud send them 
to the shij) of the line. Having every reason to be- 
lieve that the enemy intended to make a boat attack 
upon him that night, Captain IJeid cleared for action, 
got under way, and began to sweep inshore. The 
mot)n was nearly full at the time, and as the sky was 
clear every movement of the vessels could be seen 
with great distinctness. 

AVhen the Canidiion'.s people saw the move being 
made by the privateer they (juickly cut their cables 
and made sail. As tiie wind was very light, the brig 
ma<le lit lie or no ])rogress, and, im]iatient at the de- 
lay, her commander lowered four boats, under Lieu- 
tenant Robert Fauss(»tt, and sent them in pursuit 
of the (iciicnil Aniislroinj. It was now about eight 
in the evening, and as soon as Captain Keid saw the 
boats coming toward him he dropped anchor with 
si)rings on his cable and brought his broadside to 
bear. He then hailed the boats, warning them to 
keej) off or he would tire. Xo attention was paid to 
this summons, and, although it was repeated several 
times, the English pei'sisted in holding their course, 
and even increased their efforts to come alongside. 
Perceiving that the boats were well manned, and 
a]»])ar<Mitly heavily armed. Captain lieid could no 
longer doubt that they intended to attack him, and 
he oi'dercMl his men to open with their small arms 
and cannon. 

The boats i)i'omptly returned the tire, but so un- 
expiM-tedly warm was the recei)ti()n they got from 
the ]»rivateer that they soon cried for quarter and 
hauh'd oif iu a badly crip])led condition. Their loss 
in I his encounter, accor<ling to American reports, 
was u])wai-(l of twenty killed or wounded. Captain 
Iveid had one man kiUed and liis first officer 
wounded. li<4urniug to their siii])s the British could 
be seen ])reparing for a more formidable attack. The 
Americans im])r()ved their o])])oi't unity to haul close 
into the beach within half pistol shot of the castle, 



496 BATTLE OF FAYAL. 1814. 

where they anchored the General ArnisfroiH/ head and 
stern. 

About nine o'clock the Canxttion was observed 
towing- in a tleet of boats, which, on arriving at a 
point favorable for their purpose, cast off and took 
a station in three divisions, under cover of a small 
reef of rocks, witliin musket shot of the privateer. 
For some time the boats kept up a series of maneu- 
vers behind these rocks, evidently preparing to make 
a dash at the Americans in three separate divisions, 
the Canuitio)! in the meantime assisting the boats 
in every way she could, and holding herself in readi- 
ness to prevent the jn'ivateer from making a clash 
seaward. 

By this time the news of the first attack had 
spread over the town, and the shore in the vicin- 
ity of the castle was black with people eager to wit- 
ness the outcome of the battle. The governor and 
some of the leading people of the place took up a 
favorable position in the castle and witnessed the 
whole affair. 

But it was not until midnight that the British 
boats Avere in readiness to renew the attack; all the 
intervening time the Americans were lying at their 
quarters. At that hour the British boats were ob- 
served coming toward the (ieuvral Ajiniiironci in one 
direct line and keeping close order. Twelve boats 
w^ere counted, each carrying a gun in the bow and 
containing in all some four liundred men. As soon 
as tli(\y were within point-blank range the privateer 
opened fire, the discharge of the long tom doing 
great execution, and for a time seeming to stagger 
the enemy. The British responded with their boat 
carronades and musketry, after which they gave 
three cheers and made a dash for the privateer. 

In a moment their boats were close under the 
General ArmHtrnuffs bow and starboard quarter and 
the command " Board! " was heard. The privateer's 
long tom and broadside guns, of course, were now 



1814. A SANGUINARY FKIIIT. 4(J7 

useless, but the Americans seized tlieir small arms 
and prepared to keep the En<j;lish from <;aining their 
decks. IMkes, cutlasses, ^listols, and muskets now 
came into lively play and with deadly effect. Wher- 
ever an Englishman showed his head above the bul- 
warks it instantly became a tarj»et. Time and ai>ain 
the liritish endeavored to lea]) over the bulwarks, 
and as often were they repelled with j^reat slaughter 
by the vi<»ilant i)rivateersmen. 

Not content Avlth kee})in<;- the enemy off their 
decks, the Americans, with every repulse of the Brit- 
ish boarders, (dambered uj) their own bulwarks and 
fired inlo the crowded IxKits with dea<lly effect. 
After this bloody strug*;ie had lasted some minutes. 
Captain lieid learned thai his second officer, Alex- 
ander (). Williams, of New York, had been killed, 
and soon afterward that liis thii-d ol'liccr, Kobert 
Johnson, was wounded in the left knee. Mr. Wil- 
liams was struck on the forehead by a musket ball 
and died instantly. These two oflicers had Ikm'u in 
(diar<ie of the forecastle, and had bravely defen(hMl 
it a<;ainst the atta(d-:s of the enemy. TIk^ death (d" 
one and the (lisablinii' of the other had a noticeable 
(d'fect, in tlu* diminished tire of the American in that 
])art of the shi]). liavinp; eff'ectually re]>ulsed the 
enemy under the stern of the (Iciici-dl Aniislroin/, and 
feai-inii' that they were nainin;Li' a foothold (ni his 
forecastle, Captain lieid i-allied the whole of the 
after division around him, and, _inivin«i' a (dieer, rushed 
forward. The renewed activity of the American 
tire forward so discouraged the enemy at this end 
of the fij^lit that they retired with iireat losses after 
an action of foi'ty minutes. 

Uaviujii: com])letely defeated the British, Captain 
Beid had time to look round him and count his 
losses and those of the emMuy. Two of the 7*o/(/'.s 
boats, literally loaded with dead and dyini>' men, 
were taken ])ossession of by the Americans. Of the 
fortv or fiftv men in these boats onlv seventeen 



498 BATTLE OF FAYAL. 1814. 

escaped death, and they by swimming ashore. An- 
other boat was found under the privateer's stern, 
commanded by one of the Phtntagenefs lieutenants. 
All of the men in it were killed save four, the lieu- 
tenant himself jumping overboard to save his life. 

Among the English killed were First Lieutenant 
William Matterface, of the l^ota, who commanded 
the expedition, and Third Lieutenant Charles Iv. Nor- 
man, of the Rota) while Second Lieutenant Richard 
I\awle, First Lieutenant Thomas Park, and Purser 
William Benge Basden, all of the Roiu, were 
wounded. 

From information Captain Reid received some 
days afterward from the British consul, officers of 
the fleet, and other sources, he believed that in the 
last attack tlie enemy had one hundred and twenty 
men killed and about one hundred and thirty 
wounded. On tlie part of the Americans only two 
were killed and seven wounded. The killed were 
Second UtMcer Williams and Burton Lloyd, a seaman, 
who was shot through the heart by a musket ball 
and died instantly. The wounded were First Officer 
Frederick A. Worth, in the right side; Third Officer 
Robert Johnson; (Quartermaster Razilla Hammond, 
in the left arm; John Finer, seaman, in the knee; 
William Castle, in the arm; Nicholas Scalsan, in the 
arm and leg; and John Harrison, in the arm and face, 
by tlie explosion of a gun. The decks of the General 
ADusiroiifi, however, had been thrown into great con- 
fusion. The long tom, the main reliance of the ship, 
was dismount(Ml and several of the broadside guns 
were disabled. By great exertions tlie long tom was 
mounted again, the decks (dearcd, and preparations 
made to renew the action should the enemy see fit 
to attack. But the British did not attempt it that 
night. 

An English eyewitness of this fight says: "The 
Americans fought with great firmness, but more 
like bloodthirsty savages than anything else. They 



1814. CAPTAIN REID LANDS. 499 

rushed into the boats sword in hand, and put every 
soul to death as far as came within their power. 
Some of the boats were left without a single man 
to row them, others with three or four. The most 
that any one returned with was about ten. Several 
boats lioated ashore full of dead bodies. . . . For 
three days after the battle we were employed in 
burying the dead that washed on shore in the surf." 

At three o'clock in the morning ('aptain lieid 
received a note from the American consul asking 
him to come ashore, as there was important informa- 
tion awaiting him. Captain Reid did as requested, 
and going ashore learned that the governor had 
sent a note to Captain Lloyd begging him to desist 
from fui'ther attack, and that the British commander 
not oidy had refused to do so, but had announced 
his determination to take the privateer at any cost, 
and if the governor should allow the Americans to 
destroy the vessel in any way he would consider that 
he was in an enemy's port and treat it accordingly. 
Satisfied that there was no hope of saving his vessel. 
Captain Keid immediately went aboard, ordered all 
the dead and wounded to be taken ashore, and the 
crew to save whatever of their personal effects they 
could. l>y the time this was done it was daylight 
and tlie ('annifion was discovered standing close in, 
and in a few minutes opened a rapid fire on the 
Americans. Captain Keid responded to this fire with 
liis foi'uiidable l)attery, and soon induced the brig 
to haul off, with her rigging mindi cut, her fore-top- 
mast wounded, and some other injuries. 

After re])airing these damages the Cnnuition 
again came down, and, dropping anchor, opened a 
deliberate fire on the (iciicral Ari}i.sf)-o)if/, which was 
intended to destroy hi^v. Captain Reid, with his 
men, now abandoned the ship, after scuttling her, 
and repaired on shore. English boats then boarded 
the privateer, and, setting her on fire, soon had her 
complet(dy destroyed. A number of houses in the 



500 



BATTLE OF FAYAL. 



1814. 



town were injured by the Englishmen's fire and 
some of the inliabitants were w^oimded. A woman 
sitting in the fourth story of her home had her 
thigh shattered and a boy had his arm broken. 

For a weelv the English vessels were detained 
in the harbor, burying their dead and attending to 
their wounded. Three days after the battle they 
were joined b^^ the sloops of war Thais and Calypso, 
which were detailed by Captain Lloyd to take the 
wounded to England, the Cali/pso sailing on October 
2d and the Thais on the 4tli. Captain Lloyd's squad- 
ron arrived at Jamaica on November 5th, where the 
English officers acknowledged a loss of sixty-three 
killed and one hundred and ten wounded, among the 
former being three lieutenants. On November 3, 
L*^Or), Sir Ivichard Strachan, with four sliii)s of the 
line and four frigatc^s, fought a French lleet many 
hours, capturing four shii)s of the largest rates. His 
loss was only one hundred and thirty-five killed or 
wounded, ("aptain Lloyd in this affair spent quite 
as much time in destroying a single American pri- 
vateer and lost nearly two hundred men. Such vic- 
tories, as this Bunker Hill of the ocean, are disas- 
trous to the victors. 

The serious nature of this action is better shown 
by a comparison of the losses the English sustained 
in their frigate actions with the TTuited States in this 
war. Taking the losses that the British admit having 
sustained in this action, we have: 



Convparafive English Losxpi^ 


in Frig at 


? Actions. 




Name of action. 


Killed. 


Wounded. 


Total. 


British squadron vs. (ren. Armstro7ig . . . 


68 
15 
36 
60 
24 
5 
11 
35 


110 
63 
68 

101 
50 
10 
14 
43 


173 

78 


Marpflnvian vs. United Staffs 

Java vs ('oiistitut inn 


104 
161 




83 


Plurtx' and C/ifirni vs. Essex 

Eii(h/»iio?i vs President 


15 
25 


C'l/ane and Levant vs. Constitution .... 


77 



1814. PURSUIT OF THE AMERICANS ON SHORE. SQl 

Miidiui;- tliat his conduct in attacking the General 
ArmHtroiKj in a neutral port required an explanation, 
Captain Lloyd declared that the first boats he sent 
toward the privateer were ordered merely to recon- 
noiter the Americans, and that Ca])tain Keid took 
the initiative in hostilitu's by opening tire on them. 
The circumstances of the case, however, fully bcnir 
out ('a])tain Keid's belief that the boats were sent 
for the ])urp()se of making an attack upon him. To 
reconnoiter an enemy's vessel in a neutral ])ort with 
four boats carrying over one hundred armed men 
is too sus])ici()us a circumstance to be easily ex- 
plained away, especially as these boats persisted 
in drawing nearer and nearer to the privateer, in 
s])ite of repeated waruings to keep off. Another cir- 
cumstance wliich weighs heavily against Captain 
IJoyd is the fact that when the TJiais and Cdli/pso 
saih'd for England with the wounded lie strictly for- 
bade those vessels to carry any letters or informa- 
tion bearing on the action. 

Ca])tain Lloyd still further added to the infamy 
of his attack on the (iciici'dl Aiiiistnttnj by the methods 
lie emi)loye(l to seize some of the American seamen 
when on shoi-e. Lnder the pretext of searching for 
deserters he addressed an otiHcial letter to the gov- 
ernor, stating that in the crew of the privateer were 
two deserters from the s(}uadron he commanded 
while on the American station, and as they were 
guilty of " high treason " he demanded that the Por- 
tuguese authorities ])roduce these men. Kightly 
judging theii' man, the Americans, on gaining the 
shore, tied into the interior, fearful that Captain 
Lloyd, exas]ierated at his defeat on water, would 
follow u]) his attack on shore. The Portuguese 
governor, having no force at hand to ]irotect him- 
self, was compelled to obey, and sending a guard 
into the mountains arrested the seamen, brought 
them to Fayal, and compidled them to undergo an 
examination before British oflficers. The alleged 



502 BATTLE OP FAYAL. 1814. 

deserters were not found and the seamen were re- 
leased. 

Captain Reid, with his surviving men, retired to 
an old Gothic convent in the interior, and breaking 
down the drawbridge prepared to defend himself 
against an,y further attacks the British might make. 
Captain Llo3'd did not see fit to resume hostilities, 
however, and soon afterward Captain Reid returned 
to the United States and was received with distinc- 
tion. At Richmond, Virginia, he was the guest of 
honor at a banquet where the governor and other 
high officials were present. Some of the toasts were 
highly characteristic of the feeling of the people 
toward our maritime forces at that time. Thej were: 
" The Navy — whose lightning has struck down the 
meteor flag of England: they have conquered those 
who had conquered the world"; "The Private 
Cruisers of the United States — whose intrepidity has 
pierced the enemy's channels and bearded the lion 
in his den "; " Barney, Boyle, and their Compatriots 
— who have plowed the seas in search of the enemy 
and hurled retaliation upon his head"; "Neutral 
Ports — whenever the tyrants of the ocean dare to 
invade these sanctuaries may they meet with an 
/^.s.scr and an Annstroug "; " The American Seamen — 
their achievements form an era in the naval annals 
of the world: may their brother soldiers emulate 
their deeds of everlasting renown"; "Captain Reid 
— his valor has shed a blaze of renown upon the 
character of our seamen, and won for himself a 
laurel of eternal bloom." 





^ 



CHAPTER XXV. 

COXCLT'SIOX. 

PiuvATEERixc;, SO far as the United States have 
been enga<;e(l in it, lias been limited to onr two 
wars with (Jreat Britain. It is true that dnrinj^- onr 
ti-oiibles with the French Directory, 17il8~lSoi, let- 
ters (»f iiiar(ine were issued b_v the (Tovernnient ; but 
these were used (hietly by our UK^'chantmen as a 
license to defend themselves from hostile craft. Tlx' 
few actions that took ]»lac(^ in which shi])s arnu'd 
at ])rivate ex])ense were eni;ai;ed are notable as 
beiu}.'' exceptions. 

At the time the civil war broke out the commerce 
of the United States ranked as second in the Avorld, 
bein«>- exceeded only by that of Great Britain. Of 
our large tonnaiie at that period, less than one tenth 
belon<i(Ml to the secedint;' Slates, and that one tenth 
was quickly drafted into the reiiular service of the 
Confederacy or was (h^stroyed by the viiiilance of our 
blo(d\ade vess(ds and cruisers; so that there was, in 
fact, no fi(dd in wlii(di Northern privateersmen could 
enj^'ajie. The Decdaration of Paris in 1856 did much 
to discredit the practice of privateering-. In re- 
sponse to the circular invitation issued by the 
Powers, Secretary Marcy, in behalf of the Tainted 
States, proposed an amendment to the rules by 
Mhi(di private property on the hiiih seas in time of 
war would be exempt from seizure. The same 
pro])osition was made by the United States dele- 
ii^ates to the Peace Conference at The Haejue in 1899. 

503 



504 CONCLUSION. 1861. 

No action was taken on Secretary Marcy's sugges- 
tion, and the United States did not become a party 
to the Declaration. After Lincoln's first inaugura- 
tion as President, our Government opened negotia- 
tions Avith the Powers, offering to accede to the 
terms of the Declaration unconditionally, one of 
which discountenanced privateering; but Great Brit- 
ain declined to enter upon an agreement which 
would have been operative in the war then existing 
between the Nortliern and Southern States. 

Gu April 17, 18G1, Jefferson Davis announced that 
he would issue letters of marque against the com- 
merce of the United States, and a few vessels sailed 
from the Southern ports with the license to " burn, 
sink, and destroy." By the close of ^May, 1861, some 
twenty prizes had been brought into New Grleans 
for adjudication. Most of these privateers were 
small vessels, old slavers, fishing schooners, revenue 
cutters, and tugs. Had it not been for the energy 
with which the blockade was maintained they un- 
doul)ted]y would have infiicted an enormous amount 
of damage on Nortliern commerce. As a rule, these 
craft concealed themselves in the many inlets along 
tlu^ S(»uthern coast and pounced upon any unsuspect- 
ing merchantman that happened along. 

A few privateers made bolder ventures. A con- 
demned slaver, renamed Jvff Davis, cruised along 
the New England coast, but after making a few valu- 
able captures she Avas wrecked on the coast of Flor- 
ida. A schooner fitted out in Charleston, named 
BcfiHrrgard, was captured by the United States 
bark W. G. Audcrsoii, while the privateer schooner 
Jiidah was destroyed at her moorings in Pensacola 
by a party of officers and seamen from the frigate 
Colorado, under the command of the late Kear-Ad- 
miral John Henry Russell;^ the present Rear-Ad- 

' For an account of this handsome exploit, see Maclay's History of the 
United States Navy, vol. ii, pages 169, 170. 



1861. PRIVATEERS OF THE CONFEDERACY. 505 

miral John Francis Higgiiison, receiving a wound in 
that gallant affair which he carries to this day. An- 
other privateer from Charleston, the 54-ton pilot 
boat ^araiiiKili, was captured hj the United States 
bi'ig of war rcrri/ and was carried to New York, 
where the crew wei-e held on a charge of piracy. 
The Southerners luel (his step with threats of retali- 
ation on the prisonei's in their hands, and the charge 
was not pressed. 

Probably the best-known Southern privateer was 
the Petrel, a revenue cutter converted to private use, 
which was sunk b.y a shell from the sailing frigate 
St. Laicreiice. The pojiular stor^^ that the St. Laiv- 
rence was disguised as a merchantman at the time, 
and so decoyed the Petrel under her guns, is en- 
tirely ei-roneous, the frigate simply giving chase 
to the ]>rivateer, and, getting within gunshot, sank 
her. 

Aside from these few unimportant instances of 
Confederate ])rivateering, the South accomplished 
little in the line of private enterprise on the ocean. 
This was due princi])ally to the rigor with which the 
blockade was maintained and to the vigilance of our 
cruisers on the high seas. The would-be privateers- 
men of the Confederacy, therefore, directed their 
energies to the more profitable occupation of block- 
ade running, taking out Southern products and 
bringing in munitions of war. The better-known 
commerce destroyers of the Confederacy, such as the 
Sintifer, Florida., Alahauia, Rapjxihauiiocl-, and Sheiian- 
(hxih, cannot ])roperly come under the head of priva- 
teers, foi- they were (]uite as regularly commissioned 
naval vessels as were our Bnnhonnue Ixicluird, AUi- 
anee, TriDiitnill, Dcanc, or any of our other Continental 
war ships of the Eevolution.^ 

Tt is believed that all the actions in which Ameri- 

' For an account of these Confederate commerce destroyers, see 
Maclav's Historv of the United States Navy, vol. ii, pages 508-528. 
30 " 



506 CONCLUSION. 1812. 

can privateers, both in the Kevolution and in the 
War of 1812, were engaged, as v/ell as all their im- 
portant captures, have been noted in this work. It 
is possible that some of the operations of our ama- 
teur cruisers have escaped the exhaustive reseafl-hes 
of the author. If such is the case he will gladly re- 
ceive any reliable infiormation on the subject, so that 
it may he incorporated in future editions. In sum- 
ming up the record of our armed craft fitted out 
by private enterprise it will be found ^ that in the 
struggle for independence one thous^md one hun- 
dred and lifty-one privateers were commissioned, as 
follows: Three hundred and seven from Massachu- 
setts, two hundred and eighty-three from Pennsyl- 
vania, one hundred and sixty-nine from Maryland, 
one hundred alid f ortj^-two from Connecticut, sev- 
ent}' - eight from New Hampshire, forty - four from 
Virginia, eighteen frxnn Rhode Island, fifteen from 
New York, nine from South Carolina, four from New 
Jersey, and four from North Car(dina, while seventy- 
eight came from ports not designated. Tlrese vessels 
are known to have captured three hundred and forty- 
three of the enemy's craft, andHt is probable that a 
considerable number of prizes were made of which 
the record is lost. 

In the War of 1812 five hundred and fifteen 
privateers were commissioned, as follows: One hun- 
dred and fifty from ^Massachusetts, one hundred and 
twelve from Maryland, one hundrcMl and two from 
New York, thirty-one from Pennsylvania, sixteen 
from New Ilampshire, fifteen from Maine, eleven 
from Connecticut, nine from A^irginia, seven from 
Louisiana, and seven from Georgia, wiiile fifty- 
five were from ports not designated. These vessels 
are known to have captured one thousand three hun- 
dred and forty-five craft of all kinds from the enemy, 
though, like their brethren of the rJevolution, our 
privateersmen of the later war w^ere careless in mat- 
tei's of record, and it is highly probable that a large 



1816. AFTER THE WAR. 507 

mimber of seizures were made of which little trace 
is left. • , - ' - 

After each of these wars the vessels eno-aged in 
the privateer service were laid up, used in commerce, 
or were destroyed, while their officers and men were 
compelled to seek emplovment in the more peaceful 
pursuits of life. Years after the War of 1812 it was 
not unusual to observe men who had once com- 
maiuled llie quarter-deck of an armed vessel, whose 
<)rd({rs meant instant obedience and whose frowns 
Avere more dreaded than the heaviest gales or hostile 
cauiiou, bending over ledgers in the counting-rooms 
of sliipping ports or engaged in menial service. 
IMndiug their calling as sea warriors gone, these 
men entered any trade or business offering, where 
lliey soon discovered that the qualifications peculiar 
nud needful for the successful privateersman were 
not only out of place, but a positive hindrance, in 
their new fields of activity. As a rule, these mighty 
uu'u of the sea rapidly reversed the scale of promo- 
lion, and for the rest of their lives ground out an 
humble existtMice as drudging clerks, longshoremen, 
or wage earners. Like the noble ships they once 
couiniandcd, tlioir occupation was gone, and they 
wore laid up to rust and wear out the balance of 
their days in an inglorious existence, waiting for 
leather Time, the conqueror of all, to remove them 
to their final haven of rest. They have, however, 
loft a record in the history of their country which is 
well worthy of preservation, and it will stand as 
an iiiii)erishable monument to the gallant part they 
played in the defense of their native land. 



INDEX 



AchiUes, 138-147. 

Ackcrlv. O. R., xxvii. 

Artifiii, 244. 

Actirr, 411. 

. I (•/(■(•(■, British brif;. 114. 

Artirc, British cruiser, 88. 

Artirc, priviiti'or, 90, 117, 133. 

Act ire, sloop, 137. 

Adams, A., 481. 

Adams, Charh's, 1()4. 

Adams. I)., 17, 210. 

Adams, J., 74. 

Aih'linc, 338. 

AiliHiml Dnf, 133. 

Adrnilurer, 197. 

Aili'ociitp, 323. 

^Etna, 76. 

Africa, 72. 

Ak'ock, Ensisn, 37. 38. 

Alcratidcr, 120. 

Alexander, Charles, 90. 

Alcanider, War of 1812, 413. 

Alfred. 411. 

Allen. Heiirr, 3r)2, 3.-)7, 358. 

.\llen, Noah. 4.5S. 

All.-n, W. H., 434. 

AUihone, William, 179. 

Almeda, Captain, 424. 

Atnrliii. 481. 

America, frigate-built, 20. 

America, privateer, 16. 

America, schooner, 71. 

America, War of 1812, 328-335. 

American Revenue, 133. 

Amjiliian, 129. 

Anacunda, 254-264. 

.Vnderson, Major, 92. 

Andrew Caldirell. 86. 

Angus, .1.. 116, 134. 

Ann, schooner, 16. 

Ann, snow, 73. 

Annabflla, 67. 

Anna Maria, 72. 

Antelope, 217-219. 

Arab, 467, 468. 

Arbuthnot, Admiral, 111. 177. 

Ardent. 148. 149. 

Arao, Sr,. 102-110. 

Ar'ao. War of 1812, 479. 



Arnold, J., 458. 
Arrow, 24. 
Asia, 92, 93. 
Atalante, 217, 218. 
Ata.% 322. 
Atlan, 251-264. 
Aurora, 90. 
Avery, Robert, 57. 
Ayrcs, John, 05. 

Babbidge, C, 71. 

liabcock, G., 215. 

Babson, J., 240. 

Bainbridge, William, 3(i6. 

Baker, J., 136. 

Baker, Lieutenant, 96, 97. 

Balch, G. ^\., 53. 

Ball, Mr., 288. 

Baltimore, 475. 

Baltimore Hero, 73, 133. 

Barclay, Consul-General, 87. 

Barnes, J., 423, 424, 476. 

Barney, Jo.shua, in Pomona, 79-84; 
prisoner in Yarmouth, 148-151 ; es- 
cape from Old Mill Prison, 151-160 ; 
in South Carolina, 161-104 ; in Samp- 
.vo», 301-305 : in 7?o.v.s7>, 305-307. 

Barrette, G. W., .309-313. 

Barron, .Tames. 64. 

Barry, .lohn, 85. 

Bartlett, .Tolin R., 168. 

Basden, W. B., 498. 

Beatley, .7., 4.58. 

Ueanreejard, 504. 

Bearer, ])rivateer, 119. 

Bearer, sloop, 73. 

Bedford, Joseph, 183. 

Bee, 322. 

Beecher, J., 322. 

Belisarintt. 68. 

Bell, Jlrs. Elizabeth, 16. 

Bella, 119. 

Bellamy. Samuel, 38. 

Belle Poole. 8. 

Beluche, R.. 322. 

Benjamin Franhlin. 14. 

Benjamin FranL-lin, War of 1812, 439. 

Benninijton. 1 15. 

Benson, the Res'. Mr., 15. 
509 



510 



INDEX. 



Benson, Thomas, 139. 
Beiitham, George, 494. 
Betsey, English privateer, 110 
Betsey, sloop, 72, 73. 
Betsey and Polly, 73. 
Biddle, Nicholas, 76, 90. 
Biddle, Owen, 75. 
Blaek Jolce, 228. 
Blaeh Prinee, 119. 
Bliiek l^iKike. 77. 
Blair, Captain, 70. 
Blair, R., 456. 
Blaze Castle, 215. 
Blessinq of the Bay, 35. 
Bloekaile, 323. 
Blonde, 17, 216. 
Bloodhoiiud. 227, 228. 
Blum, J. M., 274. 
Bolton, II., 480. 
Bonnett, Steed, 33, 34. 
Bormer, B., 64. 
Boston, 199, 206. 
Bourmaster, John, 64. 
Bowen, Ephraim, 47, 50. 
Bowes, 285-287. 
Boyd, 430-432. 
Boyle, Thomas, 279-299. 
Brantz, Captain, 220. 
Bray, Captain, 243, 409. 
Breed, H. J., 392. 
Brenow, B., 228, 229. 
Brice, J., 73. 
Broadhoiisc, H., 215. 
Bromlield, Mr., 164. 
Brooks, George, 248, 249. 
Broom, 73. 
Broughton, Nicholas, 65. 

Brown, Addison, xxvi. 

Brown, Captain, 263. 

Brown, David, 316. 

Brown, E., 309. 

Brown, English captain, 26. 

Brown, John, 46, 47, 168. 

Brown, Joshua, 456. 

Brown, M., 134. 

Brudhiirst, B., 73. 

Baceaneer, 90. 

Bucklin, Joseph, 48-50. 

Bucklou, Captain, xiii, 78. 

Bitekskin, 409, 410. 

Buffington, Captain, 119. 

Bull, David, 35, 36. 

Bnll 1)0(1, 75. 

Bunker Hill, 115. 

Burbank, 259. 

Burch, J., 476. 

Burdett, Captain, 246, 247. 

Burham, F., 234. 

Biirke, 76. 

Burns, O., 321. 

Byron, Admiral, 148. 

Cabot, the Messrs., 163-165. 
Cabot, Richard, 139. 
Cadet, 418, 419. 
Ciesar, 147. 
Calypso, 500. 



Camden, 76, 90. 

Campan, J., 444. 

Campbell, Captain, 133. 

Campbell, Colonel, 67. 

Campbell, J., 77. 

Capel, T. B., 244. 

Carman, E., 443. 

Carnation, 494-502. 

Carnes, John, 137, 142. 

Caroline, brig, 73. 

Caroline, privateer, 424, 425. 

Carrowav, Captain, 226, 227. 

Cashell, Mr., 289. 

Cassiu, Stephen, 90. 

Castigator, 247. 

Castle, William, 498. 

Castor, 135. 

Cat, 133. 

Catherine, 234. 

Caultield, A. D., 332. 

Champlin, Guy R., 484-490. 

Chance, 74, 85. 

Chance, English brig, 108. 

Chance, Norfolk, 320. 

Chance, sloop, 207. 

Chaplin, S., 214. 

Charles and Sally. 73. 

Charles Stewart, 418. 

Charming Peggy. 71. 

Charming Salli/, 215. 

Charrteu, Mrs., 378. 

Chase, 119. 

Chase, N., 77. 

Chasseur, 292, 293. 

Chatham, 76. 

Chauncey, Isaac, 10. 

Chaytor, D., 467. 

Chazel, J. P., 324-327. 

Cherokee, 68. 

Chester, T., 136. 

Chevers, James, 333-335. 

Chieve, Lieutenant, 62. 

Child, Captain, 78. 

Christie, Mr., 298. 

Churchill, B. K., 273, 274, 277. 

Cicero, 163-165. 

Clarke, S. C, xxvi. 

Clearv, R., 322. 

Cleaveland, S., 74. 

Cleopatra, 220. 

Clewk'V. W., 323. 

Clinton, 40. 

Cloutman, T., 350. 

Coas, Captain, 73. 

Coates, J., 322. 

Cockburn, Admiral, 261. 

Coffin, Captain, 78. 

Coggeshall, Charles, 348. 

Coggcshall, George, xi, xxv, 318, 319 ; 

in David Porter, 336-349 ; in Leo, 

350-358, 401. 
Cohen, B. I., xxvi. 
Coleman, Captain, 478, 492. 
Collier, Sir George, 386-390. 
Collins, R.. 134. 
Columbus, 85, 115. 
Comet, 88. 



INDEX. 



511 



Comet, sloop, 208. 

Comet, War of 1812, 280-299. 

Commerce, 87. 

Commodore Hull, 259. 

Concord, 66. 

CotKirctis, ounboat,- 70. 

Coii(ircss, privatc(!r, 125, 211-213. 

Coiiklin. E., 24, 25, 115. 

ComuT, J., 119. 

Con.stant-Wuniick, 3, 4. 

Convention, 76, 116. 

( 'ora, 227, 228, 322, 430. 

Cornell. Brigadier-General, 97. 

Coniet, 74. 

Cornwitllis, 220-222. 

Coxxock, 416. 

Courter, .T., 137. 

Cowan, R()i)ert, 145. 

( lahtree, Captain, 71. 

Crahtree, W., Captain, War of 181;; 

Craft, William, 429. 

Craig, Army Captain, 137. 

CraiK, H., Ul. 

Craig, K.. 115. 

Crarv, H., 210. 

Crawford, W. H., 351. 

Craycroft, R., 338. 

Crc'ighton, 20, 70. 

Creighton, William, xiii, 131. 

Croke, .Judge, 245. 

Cropsey, ,J., 440. 

Crosl)y, Captain, 11 1. 

Crowley, Mr., 207. 

Crowninshield, Arent S., xxvi. 

Crowninsliield, Benjamin, 139, 

413. 
Crowninshield, Bowdeii, xxvi. 
Crowninshield, (Jeorge. 20, 328. 
Crowninshield. .John, 410, 417. 
Crowninshield, .John ('.. xxvi. 
Crowninshield, The Messrs.. l(i. 
Crnekshanks, Tatriek, 194, 195. 
Cnlhidni, 111. 
Ciunhvrhitid, 192, 193, 203. 
Cunningham, Captain, 72. 
Cunningham, Cai)tain, War of 

454. 
Cnrlew, 2.35, 2.36. 
Cui'tis, Captain, 217. 
Cijrm, 60. 

Dahnev, J. B., 493. 491. 
Dalling, T., 21.5. 
Dance, Lieutenant, 362. 
Daniel. Captain. IKi. 
Daniels, .1. D., 472. 482. 
Dart, 413. 

Dartmoor Prison, 367, 370. 
/)(i.s7i, 226, 227. 
Dashiell, 15.. 73. 
Daueliy. O. B., xxvi. 
Ihuid Porter. 33t)-349. 
Davidson, W.. 479. 
Davis, Captain, 220, 236. 
Davis, .Telferson, 504. 
Davis, John, 257. 
Davis, Joshua, 194, 202, 203. 



229. 



328, 



1812. 



Davis, Judge, 248. 

Davis, William J., 435, 436. 

Dawson, J., 435, 436. 

Day, P., 133. 

Dean, S., 73. 

Deane, 199, 204. 

Dcane, Captain, 118. 

Death, Captain, 13, 11. 

Decatur, 308-319, 338. 

Decatur, Stephen, Jr., 88. 

Decatur, Stephen, Sr., 88. 

Declaration of Paris, 503, 504. 

Defence, brig, 220. 

Defciisr, Massachusetts, 67, 68. 

Defense, South Carolina, 68. 

Defiance, 118. 

Degrcs, J.. 322. 

De Koven, H., 417. 

Dclairare, 76, 85. 

Delia, 477. 

Deliqhl, i)0. 

DeVisle, 479. 

D'Klville, R., 444. 

Dennis, A. S., 333. 

Depeyster, P. G., 352, 357, 358. 

Derl)v. Karl of, 3. 

Derl)v, John, 139. 

Derby, Mr., 392. 

Derick, W., 320. 

Denpateh, 74. 

DcsjHilch, packet. 140, 247. 

D'Kstaing, Count, 94. 

De.sterl)echo, P., 414. 

Deitx Amis, 42. 

Devonshire, 78. 

Dewley, E. W., 473. 

De Wolf, James, 265. 

Diamond. 77. 

Diamond, War of 1812, 479. 

Diana, 134. 

Dicken.son, Mr., 48. 

Dickenson, P., 477. 

Dickinson, 76. 

Dieter, John, 299. 

Digby, Adnnral, 156, 160, 186. 

Pilifience, 59, 60. 

nili<ient, 417. 

Diron, Dominique, 309-319, 338. 

Dithurbide. I)., 445. 

Dirided We Fall. 440. 

Dixon, Joseph, 330. 

Dobsou, W. B., 446-448. 

Dodge, Mrs. S., xxvi. 

Dodge, Samuel, xxvi. 

Dolphin. 62, 63, 71. 

Dolphin, War of 1812, 229, 240, 241, 465- 

468. 
Dooley. See Dewley. 
Dote, Thomas, 65. 
Doughty, Captain, 76. 
Douglass, J., 135. 
Dougle, A., 323. % 

Downer. J., 230. 
Dracjon, 38, 41. 

Draqon, Torv privateer, 105. 106. 
Drowne. II. R., 167, 168. 
Drowne, II. T.. 168. 



512 



INDEX. 



Drowne, Solomon, 167, 176. 

Drysdale, William, 461. 

Dablin, 107, 108. 

Duchess of Cuinherhind, 125, 213. 

Diiddingston, William, 44-50. 

Duncan, Captain, 82. 

Dunkirk, 129. 

Dunlop, Lieutenant, 96-100. 

Dunn, Benjamin, 48. 

Dunn, Samuel, 48, 49. 

Dunn, T., 215. 

Dyar, C'liarles, 65. 

Engle, 77. 

Eagle, packet, 117. 

Eagle, privateer, 25. 115. 

Eagle, War of 1812, 469, 470. 

Earle, J., 73, 116, 133. 

Earlof En-ol, 77. 

Edsecorabe, Lord, 160. 

Edwards, Admiral, 203, 204. 

Elfiiiiihiiiii, 76. 

Egnioul, 136. 

Eli~abeth, 90. 

Elliott, 105. 

Elliott, Jesse D., 10. 

Elwell, D., 231-233. 

Endicott, Captain, 16, 240, 4(i8. 

Endicott, Colonel, 29. 

Enterprise, 77. 

Essex, frigate, 254. 

Esse.r, privateer, 209. 

Eustis, Dr.. 94. 

Evans, J., 364. 

Evans, R., 411. 

Ereille, 190. 

Ewing, E., 413. 

Expedition, 474, 475. 

Experiment, 76. 

Experinii-nf. 18-guns, 211. 

Eyre, IJenjamin, 75. 

Eyre, Franklin, xxvi. 

Eyre, .John, 75. 

Eyre, Manuel, 75. 

Fagan, Captain, 107, 108. 

Fair America, 214. 

Fair American, 88, 180, 246. 

Fairchild, J., 449. 

Fair Trader, 230. 231. 

Fairy, cruiser, 126-128. 

Fairy, privateer, 477. 

Falcon, brig, 16. 

Falcon, privateer, 233, 234. 

Falcon, sloop of war, (io, 66. 

Fame, American, 238, 239. 

Fame, English, 5. 

Fanny, 72. 

Farnum, First Officer, 256. 

Faussett, Robert, 495. 

Favorite, 78, 115. 

Fawn, 360. 

Fellows, Captain, 360, 441. 

Felt, John, 139. 

Ferguson, Chptain, 78. 

Ferlat, H.. 322. 

Fernald, W., 239. 



Field, Captain, 71. 

Firefly, 323. 

Fish, J., 348. 

Fiske, J., 139. 

Fitch, D., 467, 468. 

Flanagan, 110. 

Flirt, 440. 

Flora. 95, 96. 

Fly, 417. 

Folger, Captain, 111. 

Forbes, Sandy, 458. 

Forrester, Captain, 72, 139. 

Fortune, Seaman, 458. 

Fosdick, Captain, 171. 

Foster, Benjamin, 55, 57, 59. 

Fowey, 68. 

Fox, 263, 401-404. 

Fo.x, Carpenter, 12S. 

Fox, War of 1S12, 477. 

Francis, John B., 46. 

Franklin, Benjamin, xi. 

Franklin, gunboat, 76. 

Franklin, privateer, 135. 

Franklin, schooner, 65. 

Friendship, 77. 

i^roZic, 415, 416. 

Friuck, J., 458. 

Frost, Mr., 193, 197. 

Fuller, Thomas. 332. 

Gallatin. 227, 249. 

(iallinipper, 413. 

Gallop, John, 28, 29. 

Galloway, 440. 

Gamble^ William, 76. 

Gambles, Henry, 266. 

Gardiner, .Mr., 36. 

Garrison, A., 323. 

Gaspe, 44-50. 

Gavet. See Grant. 

Geddes. (4e<.rge, 134, 211-213. 

Geddes, Lieutenant, 362. 

General Armstrong, 484^88, 491-502. 

General Arnold, 132. 

General (rates, 72. 

General Hancock, 118, 119. 

General ]\fereer. 85. 

General Mifflin, 74, 88. 

General Montgomery, 75, 85. 

General Mnyiltrie. 90. 

General Pnllison. ()2. 

General Pickering, 138-147. 

General Pntnam, 116. 418. 

General Smullwood, 90. 

General l^tark, 132, 416. 

General SnUivan. 215. 

General Washington, 111. 

General Washington (General Monk), 

177-191. 
George, J., 322. 
Georgia, 73. 
Gerard. 116. 
Gerry, Elbridge. 65. 
Getciiell, Joseph, 58. 
Giles, Captain. 72. 
Gill, Captain, 71. 
Gillon, Captain, 161-104. 



INDEX. 



513 



Gilpin, Mr., 289. 

Ginks, Captain, 38. 

Glasgow, 140. 

Gleaner, 234. 

Globe, 430-433, 45ri-459. 

Glohr, La, 220-222. 

Gold, J., 227. 

Golden Juidle. 140-144. 

GoldslKirou-ih, C. \V., 24. 

Good Intent, 72. 

G<uKlri(h, ("., 235. 

( loodwin, X., 207. 

Goxmmer, 235, 23G. 

Gorernor Gerry, 278. 

Governor Tompkinit, 254-258. 

Governor Tryun, 89. 

Grace, 220. 

(Jraham, N., 322. 

Grampiin, 471. 

<;rund Turk; 391 400. 

Grande Diablo, 41. 

Granicus, 355. 

Grant, J., 430-433, 452, 4.53. 

Gra.ssin, Captain, 4(52, 4()3. 

(Jravos, Admiral, 00. 

(traves, Jolin, 194, 195, 323. 

Gray, D., 475. 

(irav, Licntcnant, 120. 

Gray, W., 135, 139, 400. 

(4rc'C'lv, Captain, 72. 

GroiMi, Captain, 239. 

Grwu, X., 392-100. 

Grei/ltoimd, 41. 

Greyhound (Xo. 2i. 120-123. 

Grimes, Captain, 76. 

Growler, 412. 

Ciuerney, Francis. 179. 

(iuttridge. Captain, 140. 

Gypsey, 234. 

ITackcr, ITiivstcMl, 90. 
Ilarkctt. Captain. 43(). 
Hailcy, Captain, 275 277. 
Hamilton, J., 74, 70. 
Hammond, Captain, 177. 
Hammond, R., 498. 
Hampden. 135. 
Ifanrork, ln-i<i, 130. 
Hancock, K'niboat, 70. 
Hancock. ]>rivatocr, 115, 135. 
Handy. T., 231-2.33. 
HniDiah, hv\ii. 00. 
Hannah. Enslisli i)ri valccr, lOti. 
Hannah, packet. 45. 4f). 
Hannah and Molly. 71. 
Hannibal. (Jl. 

Jfappi/ Retnr)!. sloop, ()3. 137. 
Haraden. .Jonathan. 138, 147. 
Harheek, C. T., xxvi. 
liiinlinsr. Seth. 07. 
llardv, Caittain, US, 119. 
Harlem. 130. 
Harlequin, britr. 72. 
Harlequin. sliip, 78. 
Harlequin, sloop, 77. 
Ilannan. .T., 77. 
Uarpey, 459-461. 



Harriet, 215. 

Harris, C, 208. 

Harris, W., 73. 

Harrison, 65, 60. 

Harrison (Xo. 2), 481. 

Harrison, J., 456. 

Harrison, Jolin, 498. 

Hart, Asa, 458. 

Hart, E., 207. 

Hasket, Elias, 391. 

Ha.'wan, 12. 

Havens, W., 207. 

Hawk, 321. 

Hawk, schooner, 96-100. 

Hawke, 136. 

Hawke, Admiral, 7. 

Hawkins, Abel, 381. 

Harjard. 114, 196. 

Hazard, iMi^lish privateer, 197. 

Hazard, .)., 23.S. 

Hazard, Tory privateer, 103, 104. 

Hazard, War of 1812. 323. 

Hazlett, C. A., xxvi. 

Hebe, 403. 

Helen, 448, 449. 

Helm, Lieutenant, 97. 99, 100. 

Henifield, Ca])tain G., 135. 

Henderson, Captain, 75. 

Henry, 78. 

Henr.v, Captain, 75. 

Henri/ Guilder, 441. 

Herald, 220-222. 

Herald, War of 1812, 441, 443. 

Herbert, Edward, 227, 249. 

Hero, 215. 

Hero, cutter, 233. 

Hero, privateer, 440. 

Hester, 39. 

Hetty, 208. 

Hewcs, J.. 351. 

Hihernia. 62, 63, 134. 

Hissinson, .Tames J., xxvi. 

Hijifiinson, .John F., xxvi. 408, ,504. 

Hiiisinson. T. W., xxvi, 213-215, 408. 

Hiqhfli/er, 262. 4.52. 

Hillm'm, Charles, .383. 

Hill. Cajitain, 103 1<;5. 

Hill, Lieutenant, 43. 

Hindman, Dr., 1.55-101. 

Hiram, 278. 

Hislop, Lieutenant-(!overnor, 36t). 

Hitch. J., 230. 

Hitchcock, Colonel, 91. 

Hitchcock. Riplev, xxvii. 

Holkar, 441, 442. " 

Holkcr, 134. 

Holker, 16 Kims, 211, 214, 215. 

Hook 'em l^nivcy, 186. 

Hooper. .Tohn, 480. 

Hope, brij;, 72. 

Hope, Henrv. .377. 

Hope, privateer. 168-176. 

Hope, ship. 65, 74. 145. 

Hope. 10 suns, 207. 215. 

Hopkins. Fsek. 91. 

Hoi)kins. .T(din R.. 17, 48, 90. 

Hopkins, X., 311, 312. 



)l-i 



Howard, J., 444. 
Howe, 67. 
Hubon, H., 449. 
Hitntcr, schooner, 135. 
Hunter, ship, 64. 
Huntress, 278. 
Hussar, 6H. 
Hijder Ally, 179-190. 
Hjiperion, 204. 
Hypocrite, 211. 

Ida, 401-407. 
Iinpertluinl, 136. 
Independence, 71, 78, 86. 
I)ide})endenci/, 71. 
Indian, 231-233. 
Industry, brig, 78. 
Industry, prize, 66. 
Industrij, selidoiier, 14. 
Ingerso'l, D., 14, 116. 
Inger.soll, Jonathan, 391, 439. 
Intrepid, 133. 134. 
Inrincihie, 443. 
Invincible Napoleon, 414, 415. 
Irvine, Captain, 137. 
Irwin, .Tolm, 422. 
Isaac and Picary, 74. 
Isabella, 78. 

Jaelv, ('aptain, 477. 

Jack's Farorite, 26, 228, 229. 

Jactkson, 1)., 77. 

Jackson, Major, 164. 

Jacob Greene & Co., 45. 

Jacobs, R., 230, 231, 350, 420-423. 

James, 77. 

Jane, 77. 

Jane, Captain, 231-233. 

Jarrett, 230. 

.Tason, 193-204. 

Jauuccv, J., 71. 

Jay, 137. 

Jeff Davis, 504. 

Jefferson. 230, 231. 

Jenkins & Havens, 484. 

Jenks, W. C, 273, 274. 

Jenny, 06. 

Jersei/, prison ship. 111, 129. 

Jetto, ishmrt, 24. 

Jiftbrd, T., 458. 

John, boat, 322. 

John, brig, 73. 

John, ship, 410. 

John and (leonje, 67. 

John and (icorqe (No. 2), 412. 

Jolnison, A., 469. 

.lohnson. Captain, 25, 26, 70, 228. 

Johnson, F., 445-448. 

Joliiison, Governor, 33, 34. 

Ji)linson, Robert, 497. 

Jones, Ichabod. 52-57. 

Jones, .Tacob, 10. 

Jones, Stephen, 54, 55. 

Jones, 'I'iKinias, 272, 273. 

Jones, William, 87. 

Jonquille, 443. 

Joseph, 71. 



INDEX. 



Josiah, J., 116. 
Judah, 504. 
Julius Csesar, 72. 
Junius Brutus, 215. 
Jupiter, 111. 

Kelly, Captain, 16. 
Kemp, 350, 420-423. 
Kendall, Captain, 140. 
Keybold, D., 106, 136. 
Kidd, William, 3, 30, 37. 
King George, 103, 104. 
King, Thomas, 360. 
Kinhart, Ab., 458. 
Knapp, J. J., 448. 
Knott, W., 73. 
Knox, General, 94. 

Lachlin, P., 324. 

Lady Erskine, 119. 

Lady Juliana, 74. 

Lady Madison, 323. 

Lady Washington, 72. 

Lafete, P., 323. 

Lamb, Captain, 78, 115. 

Lancaster, 77. 

Landrail, 472. 

Lane, S. N., 309. 

Laura, 462, 463. 

Laurel, 258. 

Laurens, Mr., 205. 

Lawler, M., 134. 

Latvnsdale, 140. 

Lawrence, 430, 480. 

Leach, J., 62, 63, 71, 137. 

Leander, 386-390. 

Le Chartrier, 323. 

Ledger, E., 134. 

Lee, 65-07, 90. 

Leech, 137, 418. 

Leeds, Captain, 133. 

Lelar, H., 408. 

Lempriere, Clement, 68. 

Leo, 350-358. 

Levant, 118, 119. 

Lewis, A. O., 352. 

Lewis, Thomas, 351. 

Liberty, English slof)p, 44. 

Liberty, privateer, 437, 476. 

Liberty, .schooner, 72. 

Lindsey, Benjamin, 45, 46. 

Lindsey, N., 412. 

Lion, 230, 350. 

Little, George, 89. 

Little Vincent, 60. 

Lively, frigate, 71. 

Lively, sloop, 17. 

Livefy, snow, 72, 216. 

Liveli/, Tory privateer, 103. 

Live 'Oah; 90. 

Liverpool, 74. 

Liverpool Packet 448, 449. 

Llovd, Burton, 498. 

Lloyd, Robert, 494, 499. 

Lodge, Henry Cabot, xxvi, 205, 206. 

Long, Mr., 307. 

Lord, N., 234. 



INDEX. 



515 



Lottery, 464-466. 
Louisa, 219, 320. 
Loveli/ Cornelia, 324. 
Lovely Lass, 321. 
Low, Nicholas. 110. 
LudwcU, (nfvenior, 31. 
Liitwidj^e, Captain, 111. 
[.i/nch, 04, 65. 
Lynx, 467, 468. 
Lyou, Captain, 61. 

^fac((roni, 106, 136. 

Mucdonouqh, 438. 

MiH-hias Libert I/, 59, 60. 

^[llllisoH, 231-233. 

Miidixun, R-vciuR' cuttor, 248, 249. 

Mullilt, David, 251-264, 401. 

Mante, J., 132. 

Maidstone, 43, 24(1, 247. 

.Maillaud, Major, 75. 

^[llmmoth, 426. 

Manly, John, 65, 66; iu Cumberland 

and Jason, 192-204. 
MantU', Captain, 42. 
Mantor, .1., 401. 
.Marc-y, Secretary, 503, 504. 
JAnv»i(/o, 379, 380. 443. 
Mnrqaret. 208, 243, 266. 
Marmretta, 52, 57. 
Maria, 244. 
Marlboroaqh. 110. 
Mars, bris, 77, 137. 
Mars, privateer, 441. 
Mars, ship, 86. 
Marsh, Samuel, 125, 213. 
Martin, II., 322. 
Martin. .!., 118, 119. 
Martindalo, Captain, 68. 
Mary, 209. 

M'try and Eli~al)eth, 74. 
Man; and James, 72. 
Mar)/ Ann, 324. 
.Masal)eaii, P., 322. 
Mason, Captain, 179-182. 
Massaehiisetts, 71. 140. 
Mathews. Captain, 479. 
Mil Id da. 433-435. 
Matterfacf, William. 498. 
.Mawney, Dr. .lohn, 4S-,50. 
Max.cy. Lieutenant. 226, 227. 
McCarthv. James, 449. 
MrCary, 77. 
MrCieave, Captain, 77. 
M.Cuiloeh. .lames H., 189. 
McFale. .l<din, 3t!l. 
McKim, Isaac. 306. 
McNeil. Daniel. 71, 88, 89. 
Mears. Captain, 76. 
Melville Prison, 3.59, 360. 
Meu/ies, Major, 67. 
Merenry. 1.33. 
Meriam, 90. 
Mermaid. 80. 
Midas. 438. 479. 
Miller, Captain, 20. 
Miller, J., 443, 473. 
Miller, prison agent, 359, 360. 



Milton, Daniel, 458. 

Milton, T., 277. 

Minerva, 90, 116. 

Mitchell, John, 458. 

Modesti/. 77. 

Monk, Lieutenant, U. S. N., 425. 

Monmouth, 116. 

Montagu, .John, 45. 

Montgomery, brig, 470. 

Montgomery, Caiitain, 75, 76. 

Montijomery, ship. 7.s. 

.Moon, Richard, 455-159, 474, 475. 

Moore, Captain, 76, 115. 

.Moore, (r., 3.50. 

Moore, Lieutenant, 52, 57. 

.Moore, P., 4t)9. 

Moran, Mr., 299. 

.Moreau, Charles L., Iti7, 168. 

Morgan, J., 230, 231. 

Morgiana, 441, 4.54. 

.Morris, (xouverneur, 206. 

Morris, Robert, 187. 

Mortimer, Captain, 477. 

Mowatt. Captain, 60. 

Mugford, James, 65. 

Monro, W. II., xxvii. 

Munroe, J., 106-108, 168-176. 

Murpiiy, John, 433, 471. 

Murray, .Vli'.xander, 85, 86. 

Murray, Captain, 474, 475. 

Myers, Mr., 422. 

Nancy, 75. 
Nancy, British, 119. 
Nancy, 5 guns, 235. 
Nanei/. privateer, 415. 
Nash', J., 416. 
Navlor, Captain, 220. 
Ned, 435, 436. 
Neptune, 137. 
Nerina. 237. 
Nevis. 77. 

Newcomb, H. S., 259. 
Newell, T. M., 322. 
Newman, Captain, 117. 
Newton, W., 115. 
Nichols, Captain, 71. 
Nichols, N., 309. 
Nichols, Sanuiel, 348. 
Nichols, William, 4.59-461. 
Nicholson, .lame.s. 192, 199. 
Nicoll, Samiud, 262. 
Nightingale, Colonel, 168. 
Nodin, .Mr., 218. 
Nou}>areil. 322. 
Norman, C. R., 498. 

O'Rrieii, Dennis, 59. 

O'Brien, (iideoii, 59. 

O'Brien. .leremiab, 57, .58. 60-62. 

O'Brien. John, .55, 58, 01-63. 

O'Brien, Jo.sej)]!, 59. 

0'Bri(>n. Morris, 56, 57. 

Olh-ien. torpedo boat. 62. 

O'Brien. William, ,59. 

Ogilby, Nicholas, 65. 

Oldham, Mr., 28, 29. 



516 INDEX. 



Oiiiri- Cromwell, 137. 
Oliver, Seaman, 458. 
Olney, Simeon, H., 48, 49. 
Orders in Council, 444. 
Ordiorne, Captain, 73, 415. 
Ordrouaiix. J., 378-383. 
Orion, 245. 
Orlando, 240. 
Osborn, J., 418. 
Osborne, W. H., xxvi. 

Packwood, Captain, 44. 

Page, Benjamin, 48. 

Paine, Captain, 77. 

Pallas, 137. 

Palmer, N., 207. 

Park, Thomas, 498. 

Parker, l^aptain, 137. 

Parker, K., 77. 

Pa.sco, Mr.. 218. 

Pasteur, E., 321, 322. 

Patapsco, 477. 

Patterson, Captain, 411. 

Paul Jones, War of 1812, 12, 238. 

Peabody, Joseph, 213, 214. 

Peace Conference at The Hague, 503. 

Penderson, Mr., 435. 

Pensioning privateersmeu, 2C, 27. 

Peoples, W. T., xxvi. 

Pepys, Mr., 3. 

Percival, Sailing Master, 4(i9, 470. 

Perkins, Thomas, 139. 

Perry, brig of war, 505. 

Perry, privateer, 478, 479, 492. 

Perry, Amos, xxvii. 

Perry, H., 482. 

Perry, J. E., 262. 

Perry, O. H., 10. 

Perseus, 201. 

Perseverance, 220-222. 

Peters, J., 323. 

Pelrel, 305. 

Pett, Peter, 3. 

Pett. Phineas, 3. 

Philips, Lieutenant, 250. 

Phillips, Captain, 73. 

Phippen, Joseph, 400. 

Phn-nix, 76, 77. 

Picarre, J., 464. 

Pickering, 236. 

Pierce, Captain. 72. 

Piiiot, 96-100, 102. 

Pigot, Sir Robert, 94, 96. 

Pile, 480. 

Pilqrim. 209, 210. 

Piiier, .Fohn. 498. 

Pirates. 30-39. 

Pitt. 136. 

Plnntaqenef, 494. 

Phintc'r, 253. 

Pluto, 90. 

Polly, ()2, 63. 

Polhl, privateer of the Eevolution. 39. 

Polly, in-ivateer, War of 1812, 231-233. 

Polly, prize. 66. 

Polly, ship, 172. 

Polly, transport, 137. 



Pomona, frigate, 192. 
Pomona, privateer, 80-84. 
Pomone, brig, 145. 
I'omone, sloop, 40. 
I'oor Nu7or, 324. 
Porter, David, 90. 
Portland, frigate, 203. 
Portland, packet, 59. 
Portland, snow, 77. 
Portsmouth, 77. 
Pratt, Capttiin, 476. 
Preble, Edward, 60, 90, 133. 
Priestly, Mr., 92, 93. 
Prince Charles, 40, 41. 
Prince de Neuchdtel, 377-390. 
Princhett, J., 324. 
Prize money, 8-12. 
Procter, John, 331. 
Prosper, 68. 
Prosperity, 85. 
Protector, 133. 
Providence, frigate, 206. 
Providence, sloop, 119. 
I'urcell, H., 418. 
Pursuit, 253. 
Putnam, brig, 77, 78. 

Quarles, R., 320, 321. 453. 
Quebec, 179. 
Queen Charlotte, 210. 
Queen of France, 206. 

Racer, 467, 468. 

Rachel, 447. 

Raisonablc, 109. 

Rambler, 90. 

Rambler, privateer, 210. 

Randolph, 171. 

Ranger, 76. 

Ranger, cruiser, 120, 206. 

Ranger, privateer, 213, 214. 

Ranger, sloop, 116. 

Ranger, snow, 75. 

lian'tin, H., 433-435. 

Rantoul, R. S., xxvi. 

Rapid, 229, 324, 437. 

Rathburne, J. P.. 11. 

Rattlesnake, 262-264. 401-407. 

Raven, 64. 

Rawle, Richard, 498. 

Rebecca, 229. 

Redois, J., 443. 

Reid, Captain, 44. 

Reid, S. C, 491-502. 

Rennoaux. Captain, 14. 

Renown, 100-102. 

Ucpiihlie. 71. 

Resolution, 137. 

Retaliation. 72, 88. 

Retaliation, sloop, 207. 

Revenge, brig. 140. 

Revenge, privateer, 8, 85, 86. 

Revenge, sloop. 72. 

Revenge. War of 1812, 412, 473. 

Rhett, Colonel, 32-34. 

Rice, J., 76. 

Richards, P., 136. 



INDEX. 



51" 



K 



Richardson. William, 155, 161. 

Richmond, Duke of, 152. 

Rider, P., 479. 

Jiisiiig Sun, 40, 41, 88, 90. 

Robinson, Isaiah. SO-84. 

Robinson, ,1., 135, 209, 210. 

Robinson, John, x.wi. 

U„hnst,\ 111. 

I\o( he. .lolm, ()5. 

Kodscrs, English captain, 177-191. 

Rodgens. .John. 90. 

Rodney, .-Vduiiral, 149. 

Ro(hiul\ iVigate, 177. 

Kochnck. privateer, 135. 

lioijer, 320, 321, 453. 

Roger, William, 77. 

R()ger.s, Woods, 33. 

Holla, 473. 

Ivoiisevelt, Theodore, dedication. 

Kopes, Joseph, 328-333. 

Jlosamond, i-il. 

Ruse, frigate, 76. 

fiO.sebml, 82. 

Russie. 305-307. 

Rotu, 494. 

Rouse, Captain, 39. 

Rover, 72, 78, 85. 

Rowland, Captain, 426, 441. 

iJowle.v, Captain, 303-305. 

Royal lioHulii, 266. 

Roijdl Ceonje, brig, 63. 71. 

/,'(/(/(// ^^(>,■(;(•, cutter, 145. 

R.onnl Hester, 41. 

Roi/dl Louis, 88. 

■■ Running ships," 19, 20. 

Ku.sli, L., 434. 

Sabin, James, 46. 

Snhine, 475. 

N(//;/, s(diooner, 133. 

Siilli/. sloop, 68, 137. 

Saiiiiison, 301-305. 

Siirali Aun, 22. 

Sarah Ann, War of 1812. 474. 

Saratofia, 85, 106-108. 

Sarato'iia, War of 1812, 436, 437, 4.54, 

45.5. 
Sauct/ ,Tael; 324, 327. 
Satindei-son, W., 324. 
:<,ira<ie, 211, 212. 
Sarainidh. 505. 
Scalsan, Nicholas, 498. 
Seammel, 216. 
Searhorouiili, 60, 64. 
Sehui/ler, 77. 
Seieure, 239. 
Scorpion, 129. 418. 
Scourae. 2()2-264. 
Scoville, 1).. 73. 
Scull, marijie otlicer. 183. 
Searcher. 229. 
.'^eare, Z., 137. 
Selbv, 365. 
Sellers, Mr., 422. 
Selman. John, 65. 
Sever, James, 90. 
Shadow. 427-430. 



Shaler, Nathaniel, 251-264. 

Shark, 73, 74. 

Shark, War of 1812. 444. 

Shaw, D., 77. 

Shaw, X., 133. 

Shaw, T., 239. 

Sherburne, .\ndrew, 120-129. 

Shirtei/, 39. 

Short, P.. 4.58. 

Sliortlaiid, 'P. (J., 370, 376. 

Sicard, M., .\xvi. 

Sicard, P., 324. 

Silliman, J. H., 249. 

Siisbee, Nathaniel, 220-222. 

Silsbee, W. K., xxvii. 

Simmons, T., 213, 214. 

Simpson, William, 11, 120. 

Sims, Captain, 114. 

Sinclair. J., 412. 

Siro, 475. 

Sir ]\'illiam Er.ikine, 89. 

Skinner, .!., 258. 

Skunk, 116. 

Small, William, 173. 

Smart, R.. 235, 415. 

Smith, Ca])tain, 453. 

Smith, J., 77, 137. 

Smith, J., U. S. N., 321. 

Smitli, John, 265, 456. 

Smith, N., 64. 

Smitli, S., 168. 

Smifh, S. 1)., 458. 

Smith, Turpin, 48, 

Snap Draijun, 321, 322. 

Snow, John, 480. 

Snow, ■Mr., 269, 270. 

Suoirhird, 230. 

Somervill(\ Philip, 494. 

South Carolina, 161-164. 

Southccmib, John, 464, 465. 

Souther, D., 71. 

Sparhawk, :Mr., 332. 

Sparrow, 476. 

Spartan, 89. 

Speeilwell. 72. 

S]ie)icer, 350. 

Sphiu.r, 220. 

Spitfire, 76. 

Sj)!/, 73, 74. 

Sp!/, schooner, 322. 

Squirrel. 43. 

Stafford. W. S., 465-468. 

Stanbur.v. J. J., 295. 

Stanle.v, Tliomas, 3. 

Stansbury, H. N.. 299. 

Staples, E., 478. 

Star and (uirter, 77. 

Starr, J.. 210. 

Stalt. P., 4.58. 

Stebl)ins, CajUain, 89. 

Stei)lienson, (ieorge P., 299. 

Sterling. Captain, 211, 212. 

Stevens, l^dmuiid. 57. 

Stevens, .hnnes, 361. 

Stevens, Rowan, 310. 

Stewart. Captain, 237, 492. 

St. George, privateer, 5-7. 



51S 



INDEX. 



St. George, ship of line, 137. 

Stiles, Richard, 65. 

St. James, 87. 

St. John, 43. 

St. John, schooner, 140. 

St. Lawrence, 262, 296-299. 

St. Lawrence, frigate, 505. 

St. Mary's, 63. 

Stoddart, N., 216. 

Stone, Captain, 35. 

Storer, Captain, 440. 

Storey, T. W., 445. 

Story, Judge, 245. 

Story, T. W., 445. 

Stott, A. C, XX vi. 

Stout, Captain, 103. 

Stowards, Captain, 209. 

Strachan, Sir Richard, 500. 

Strange, R., 133. 

Strong, M., 210. 

Sturdy Beticjar, 75. 

Stnrdi/ Becigar, privateer, 75. 

Subtle, 26." " 

Success, 90. 

Sullivan, 68. 

Sullivan, General, 94. 

Surprise, 136, 201. 

Surprise, War of 1812, 423, 424. 

Sutherland, Mr., 267. 

Swaggerer, 289, 290. 

Swallow, 215. 

Sweet, Captain, 85. 

Swordfish, 364. 

Syren, 472, 481. 

Talbot, Silas, 85, 91-112, 151. 

Tamar, 68. 

Tapanagouche, 59. 

Tapuaquish. (See Tapanagouche.) 

Tartar, 63. 

Tatem, B., 72. 

Taylor, A., 238. 

Taylor, E., 467, 468, 477. 

Taylor, J., 427-430, 479. 

Taylor, Y., 137. 

Teaser, 242, 243. 

Teazer (No. 2), 445-448. 

Terrible, 1.36, 411. 

Terrible, English privateer, 13, 14. 

Tevisden, Sir William, 149. 

Thais, 500. 

Thames, 133. 

Thayer, Mr., 193, 195, 198, 200. 

Thelis, James, 456. 

Thetis, 75. 

Thomas, 239. 

Thomas, Captain, 118. 

Thomas, Ensign, 92, 94. 

Thomas, F., 322. 

Thompson, Captain, 76. 

Thompson, Captain (No. 2), 438, 479. 

Thompson, John, 257. 

Thompson, S., 115, 216. 

Thorn, 89, 90. 

Thrasher, 411, 412. 

Three Brothers, 140. 

Thruloe, 42. 



Thunderer, 192. 

Tibbets, J., 215, 330. 

Tiger, 60. 

Ti'ley, John, 65. 

Tillinjihast, Joseph, 48. 

Tiniotlii/ rickering, 246, 415. 

Tingley, Captain, 40, 41. 

J'obaqo, 68. 

Toby, Mr., 57. 

Tom, 451, 452. 

Tracy, J., 71. 

Trenchard, E., xxvi. 

Tripi)e, W. H., 321. 

Troup, Captain, 41, 42. 

True American, 119. 

True Blooded Yankee, 274-276, 356. 

True Blue, 135. 

Trumbull, John, 161-165. 

Truxtun, Thomas, 86, 87. 

Tuchahoe, 477. 

Tucker, Samuel, 90, 199. 

Tulip, 251, 252. 

Turner, James, 361. 

Two Brothers, 135. 

Two Friends, 322. 

Tydeman, Mr., 268. 

Tjirnnnicide, 139, 140. 

tutor, 479, 480. 

Ulysses, 89. 

United We Stand, 440. 

Unit I/, 52, .56-59. 

Upton, Jeduthan, 364, 448, 449, 470. 

Valpey, Joseph, 331. 

Vane, pirate, 33. 

Vearcy, E., 430, 476, 480. 

Vengeance, French privateer, 13, 14. 

Ven<ieanee, pris^ateer, 90, 116-118. 

Venice, T., 482. 

Venus, 77. 

Victory, 322. 

Viper, 208, 417, 445, 481. 

Virginia, 78. 

Vixen, English, 244. 

Vi.ren, U. S. N., 360. 

Vol ante, 64, 116. 

Walker, Annetta O'Brien, xxvi, 59. 
Walker, Captain, 177. 
Wall, Michael, 194, 195. 
Wanton, .Joseph, 45. 
Warren, 68, 73. 
Warren, gunboat, 76. 
Warringtiin, Lewis, 11. 
Warwick, Earl of, 3. 
Washington. 68, 73. 

Wasliington, George, sends out priva- 
teers, 64-67. 
Wasp, 89. 

Wasp, privateer, 413, 477. 
Waterman, T., 440. 
Waters, Daniel, 63, 65-67, 89. 
Waters, Josepli, 139. 
Waters, T., 73. 
Water Witch, 277. 
Weathers, Captain, 246, 247. 



INDEX. 



519 



Webb, William, 238, 239. 

Week.s, J., 229. 

Wellnmu, T., 413. 

Wescott, William, 361. 

West, Captain, 71, 119. 

Wt'stDii, Haimali, 50. 

Wosloii, .losiaii, .")(). 

Wcstiiii, Ivchccia. .')(). 

W.^tphal, Mr., 2lil. 

11'. (1. Andertson, 504. 

Wheeler, J. E., 4i58. 

Whiihth, 38. 

11 ■/,;(/, 481. 

\\iiil)|)lc, Abraham, 11, 47-50. 

\\liil)l)le, C, 78. 

\\liiliple, Thomas, 78. 

White. J.. 72. 

While, Robert, 75. 

Wliitimu 77. 

ll7/;/;/i!';, War of 1812. 22(). 227. 

\\'if,'j;les\vorth, .lolin, 05. 

Wild, Mr., 291. 

H7/(/ Vat, 130. 

117/^' lU'uunl, 234. 

Willcoeks, Jolui, 179. 

Williams, Alexander ()., 497. 

Williams, Captain, 411, 451. 4.52. 

Williams, John F.. 72, 114, 115, 133. 

Williams, T. N., 481. 

Williams, William, 208. 

W'iilidmsnn, 220-222. 

Willis. Jacob. 120-122. 

Wilson, G., 233, 234. 

\Vilsou, John, 458. 



Wilson, Oliver, 265-270, 438. 

U'inthroiJ. 89, 90. 

Wise, W. F., 3.55. 

Woodbridj^e, Alderman, xiii, 131. 

Woodbury, H., 215. 

Wooster, ('ai)tain, 39. 

Wooster, (,'. W., 436, 437, 450, 455. 

Worlev, Kiehard, 33, 34. 

Worth, F. A.. 498. 

Wright, Fortunatiis, 5-7. 

Wright, (lovernor, 65. 

Wyer, William, 235, 230. 

Yankee, 70. 

Vaiikec, fishing smack, 409, 470. 

Yankee Hero, 71. 

Ya)ikec La.sn, 277. 

Yankee Porter, 277. 

Yankee, privateer, 25, 26, 70. 

Yankee Ranijer, 71. 

Yankee, War of 1812, 2(55-274. 

Yarmouth, 111, 149-151. 

Yeo, Captain, 125, 12(). 

Yeo, Sir James, 120. 

York, 478. 

Yorke, Samuel, 449. 

Yorke, Thomas, 428. 

Yiirktoun, 3(i0, 445. 

Young Eu(jle, 445. 

Young, .1., 13ii. 

YoHUii Teazer, 440-448. 

Youwj Te(r.er's Ghost, 448. 

Zachara, 20, 70. 



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